Mitsuo Ozawa

Steel Ring-Based Restraint of HSC Explosive Spalling in High Temperature Environments

This paper reports on an experimental study regarding the behavior of restrained high-strength concrete in response to the type of extreme heating associated with fire. The study was intended to support estimation of thermal stress from the strain in a restraining steel ring and vapor pressure in restrained concrete under the conditions of a RABT 30 rapid heating curve. The size of the specimens was φ300 X 100 mm, and the results showed that explosive spalling occurred between 4 and 10 minutes in terms of heating time. It was also observed that the thermal stress was greater than the vapor pressure value of 0.1 MPa at a point 10 mm from the heated surface at 5 minutes. The maximum spalling depth was about 61 mm. It was inferred that spalling behavior caused by thermal stress may become predominant under restrained conditions.

Preventive Effects of Fibers on Spalling of UFC at High Temperatures

This paper investigates the relationship between spalling behavior and weight loss for ultra-high-strength fiber-reinforced concrete (UFC) containing different types short fibers (jute, PP, WSPVA) in high-temperature environments at 400, 600 and 800 °C. The explosive spalling that occurred under these conditions caused severe damage to the control specimen but only slight damage to the specimen with jute fiber. It was therefore inferred that adding 0.19% by volume of natural jute fibers (length: 12 mm) to UFC is effective in the prevention of spalling-related damage.

Thermal properties of jute fiber concrete at high temperature

Purpose n n n n nThe behavior of high-performance concrete (HPC) at high temperatures is very complex and also affects the global behavior of heated HPC-based structures. Researchers have also reported how various types of fibers affected the mechanical properties of cement-based materials at high temperatures. This study aims to discuss the effects of high temperatures on the compressive strength and elastic modulus of HPC with polypropylene (PP) and jute fiber. n n n n nDesign/methodology/approach n n n n nAdding synthetic fiber (especially the PP type) to HPC is a widely used and effective method of preventing explosive spalling. Although researchers have experimentally determined the permeability of heated PP-fiber-reinforced HPC, few studies have investigated how adding natural fiber such as jute to this type of concrete might prevent spalling. In this study, the effects of high temperatures on the compressive strength and elastic modulus of HPC with PP and jute fiber (jute fiber addition ratio: 0.075 vol.%; length: 12 mm; PP fiber addition ratio: 0.075 vol.%; length: 12 mm) were experimentally investigated. n n n n nFindings n n n n nThe work was intended to clarify the influence of elevated temperatures ranging from 20°C to 500°C on the material mechanical properties of HPC at 80 MPa. HSC with jute fiber showed a compressive strength loss of about 40 per cent at 100°C before recovering to full strength between 200°C and 300°C. n n n n nOriginality/value n n n n nThe elastic modulus of high-strength concrete decreased by 10-40 per cent between 100°C and 300°C. At 500°C, the elastic modulus was only 30 per cent of the room temperature value. The thermal expansion strain of all specimens was 0.006 at 500°C.