This paper presents the results of an
experimental study on the transient strain of high
strength concrete (HSC) under heating up to 750 °C
and the impact of polypropylene (PP) fibers. Concerning
this topic only few results are available in the
literature and systematic investigations are missing.
However, basic knowledge is necessary for the
understanding of the internal damage processes in
the material as well as for heated structures. The
transient strain during heating can be separated in two
basic components: the free thermal strain and the
mechanical strain. They were experimentally determined
exemplarily for one HSC. For the determination
of the mechanisms of transient strain and particularly
the influence of PP fibers different techniques were
applied. In this context the monitoring of the microcracking
was done for the first time with acoustic
emission analysis in combination with ultrasonic
measurements. This new approach helps fundamentally
to explain the impact of PP fibers on free thermal
strain and mechanical strain during heating up.
Furthermore weight loss measurements were carried
out to characterize the moisture transport. It was
shown that the PP fibers cause an acceleration of the
moisture transport in the temperature range from 200
to 250 °C which leads to drying shrinkage in opposite
direction to the free thermal strain. Hence this paper is
a contribution to the general understanding of the
impact of PP fibers in HSC at high temperatures and
emphasizes the important influence of PP fibers on the
thermal and mechanical induced strain of HSC.
Bauteile bzw. Tragwerke aus Hochleistungsbetonen müssen in der Regel gegen brandinduzierte Abplatzungen mit geeigneten Maßnahmen geschützt werden, um einen ausreichenden Feuerwiderstand im Brandfall zu gewährleisten. Die bisher wirtschaftlich und technologisch sinnvollste Methode zur Verhinderung von explosionsartigen Betonabplatzungen im Brandfall ist die Zugabe von Polypropylen-Fasern. Die Wirksamkeit der Fasern konnte zwar empirisch gezeigt werden, es stellt sich allerdings die Frage, welche Mechanismen zur Verhinderung der Abplatzungen führen. Der vorliegende Beitrag fasst bisherige Theorien zur Wirkungsweise von Polypropylen-Fasern in brandbeanspruchten Hochleistungsbetonen zusammen und stellt eine innovative Methodologie zur Erforschung der mikrostrukturellen Prozesse vor. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die nach dem Schmelzen und Zersetzen der Polypropylen-Fasern frei werdenden Mikrokanäle durch eine gleichzeitig einsetzende Mikrorissbildung netzartig verbunden werden. Die Mikrorissbildung ermöglicht somit den Abbau von Eigen- und Zwangsspannungen im Beton (mechanischer Effekt) und die Entstehung eines Transportwegesystems für den ausströmenden Wasserdampf (Permeationseffekt).--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Structural members and bearing structures of high performance concrete generally have to be protected against explosive spalling due to fire exposure to guarantee a sufficient fire resistance. Up to now, the economically and technologically most worthwhile method to prevent explosive spalling is the addition of polypropylene fibres. Though the effectiveness of the fibres could be shown empirically, the mechanisms preventing explosive spalling are still debatable. The present article summarizes the existing theories concerning the mode of action of polypropylene fibres in fire exposed high performance concretes and presents an innovative methodology for analysing the micro structural processes. The results show that due to the thermal decomposition of the polypropylene fibres micro channels are created and simultaneously connected due to a netlike micro crack formation. This enables the relief of internal stresses (mechanical effect) and the formation of a permeable transport system for the escaping water vapour (permeation effect).
It has been shown in fire tests that polypropylene fibres reduce or avoid explosive spalling of high performance concrete. In the critical temperature ränge up to 300 °C the permeability of HPC increases by using polypropylene fibre. Due to this the water vapour, which is the main reason for explosive spalling, can escape. There exist different theories in the literature conceming the micro structural mechanisms, which cause an increase in the permeability. Within the framework of an internal research project at BAM an innovative methodology was developed for experimental verifying of existing theories and to get new insights into this problem The methodology used is unique and has been undertaken here for the first time. This consists of the combination of acoustic emission and ultrasonic measurement during temperature loading and the non-destructive micro structural analysis of cooled down samples with the aid of micro X-ray computed tomography. For the validation of the nondestructive test methods scanning electron microscopic images of prepared samples were undertaken. The results show that due to the thermal decomposition of the polypropylene fibres micro canals emerge. These are connected due to a simultaneous micro cack formation.
This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the influence of polypropylene (PP) fibres on the thermal strain of high strength concrete (HSC) at temperatures up to 750°C. Concerning this topic only few results can be found in the literature and systematic investigations are missing. However, basic knowledge is necessary to understand the internal damage processes as well as for structural design.
To explain the differences in the thermal strain of HSC with and without addition of PP fibres the internal damage processes were investigated with acoustic emission (AE) analysis and ultrasound (US). Furthermore the weight loss was measured continuously during heating to monitor the drying of the specimen. This novel approach by combining these different methods with strain measurements at high temperatures allows the integral description of the internal damage processes. The results reveal significant differences in the thermal strain of HSC when PP fibres are added. Between 200°C and 250°C the thermal strain of HSC with PP fibres is superimposed by shrinkage caused by accelerated drying. Above 250°C it is lower than that of plain HSC without PP fibres. It is supposed that it is caused by a more homogeneous distribution of micro cracks whereby the fibre beds acting as defects in the concrete.
Hence this paper gives a contribution to the general understanding of the impact of PP fibres in HSC at high temperatures and points out the influence of the fibres on the thermal strain of HSC.
Monitoring of fire damage processes in concrete by pore pressure and acoustic emission measurements
(2011)
This paper presents the combined use of acoustic emission (AE), gas pore pressure and temperature measurements (PT). The simultaneous application of both techniques represents a new methodology in the context of fire spalling and contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms of fire spalling, particular with regard to the interaction of micro cracking and pore pressure evolution. The study presents fire tests on normal strength concrete specimens with and without reinforcement at ISO Standard fire and at hydrocarbon (HC) fire. Supported by AE-analysis, it can be shown that due to the higher heating rate of the HC-fire in comparison to the ISO Standard fire the damage processes inside the concrete during the exposure are increased combined with augmenting the concrete permeability. As a consequence lower pore pressures were measured. However, despite the lower pore pressures, explosive spalling was observed.