Influence of exposure temperature variability on concrete degradation as a function of compressive strength and ultrasonic wave propagation velocity

Abstract

This study evaluated the influence of heating temperature variability on the degradation level of concrete by varying the exposure temperatures (200°C, 450°C, and 800°C) and concrete design strength (C25 and C40). The concretes were submitted to ultrasound tests (before and after heating) and then were ruptured by axial compression. After rupture, samples were taken from the fracture section of the specimens for microstructural analysis by scanning electron microscope (SEM), and molecular analysis by Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the residual strength of the concrete can change significantly (values differing by more than 100%) with temperature variability in the oven. There were physicochemical changes in the concrete constituents. The variations in Raman spectra and morphological changes (SEM images) allowed to analyze the variation in the level of degradation of concrete after exposure to fire, at the same firing step, due to temperature variation in the ovens, being compatible with the results of compressive strength and ultrasonic wave propagation velocity (UPV). Thus, the study highlights the need for adequate mapping of the heat in the oven and monitoring of the temperature of specimens in studies of concrete at high temperatures.