Real-time measurements of temperature, pressure and moisture profiles in High-Performance Concrete exposed to high temperatures during neutron radiography imaging

Journal Article · Sun Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Cement and Concrete Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CEMCONRES.2014.11.003· OSTI ID:22475489

Lo Monte, F. ^[1]; Wyrzykowski, M. ^[2]; Weber, B. ^[2]; Sahmenko, G. ^[3]; Vontobel, P. ^[4]; Felicetti, R. ^[1]; Lura, P. ^[2]

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1. Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Milan (Italy)
2. Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf (Switzerland)
3. Riga Technical University, Institute of Materials and Structures, Riga (Latvia)
4. Paul Scherrer Institute, Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging, Villigen (Switzerland)

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.

• OSTI ID: 22475489
• Journal Information: Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 68; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0008-8846
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
CONCRETES
FIBERS
HEATING
HUMIDITY
MORTARS
NEUTRON RADIOGRAPHY
PLATES
POLYPROPYLENE
PORE PRESSURE
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
SENSORS
SLABS
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
THERMOCOUPLES
TIME MEASUREMENT