Real-Time Measurements of Temperature, Pressure and Moisture Profiles in High-Performance Concrete Exposed to High Temperatures during Neutron Radiography Imaging
Cement and Concrete Research 2015
Nikolajs Toropovs, F. Lo Monte, M Wyrzykowski, B Weber, Genadijs Sahmenko, P Vontobel, R Felicetti, P Lura

High-Performance Concrete (HPC) is particularly prone to explosive spalling when exposed to high temperature. Although the exact causes that lead to spalling are still being debated, moisture transport during heating plays an important role in all proposed mechanisms. In this study, slabs made of high-performance, low water-to-binder ratio mortars with addition of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) and polypropylene fibers (PP) were heated from one side on a temperature-controlled plate up to 550 °C. A combination of measurements was performed simultaneously on the same sample: moisture profiles via neutron radiography, temperature profiles with embedded thermocouples and pore pressure evolution with embedded pressure sensors. Spalling occurred in the sample with SAP, where sharp profiles of moisture and temperature were observed. No spalling occurred when PP- fibers were introduced in addition to SAP. The experimental procedure described here is essential for developing and verifying numerical models and studying measures against fire spalling risk in HPC.


Keywords
High-Performance Concrete; Fire spalling Crack detection; Humidity; Temperature
DOI
10.1016/j.cemconres.2014.11.003
Hyperlink
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0008884614002233

Toropovs, N., Monte, F., Wyrzykowski, M., Weber, B., Sahmenko, G., Vontobel, P., Felicetti, R., Lura, P. Real-Time Measurements of Temperature, Pressure and Moisture Profiles in High-Performance Concrete Exposed to High Temperatures during Neutron Radiography Imaging. Cement and Concrete Research, 2015, Vol.68, pp.166-173. ISSN 0008-8846. Available from: doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2014.11.003

Publication language
English (en)
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