Effect of Moderately Elevated Temperatures on Performance of Portland Cement Concrete

Abstract

High temperature is one of the critical factors leading to the change in concrete performance since it affects the physical structure and chemical components of concrete. However, some concrete structures are continuously subjected to moderately elevated temperatures (typically less than 200 ℃) when operating, such as chimneys for the metallurgical industry and structures in nuclear power plants. The deterioration process of these structures could be caused and accelerated by a high-temperature environment. Thus, the safety and performance of these concrete structures at elevated temperatures during service life are crucial. This paper aims to investigate the change in concrete performance exposed to sustained moderately high temperatures. The concrete cured for 56 days was subjected to temperatures ranging from 65℃ to 200 ℃ for 28 days. The mechanical properties of concrete at different heating temperatures were tested, including compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. Meanwhile, concrete’s durability after heating was evaluated using the concrete electrical resistivity test. The concrete elevated-temperature performance was compared to identical concretes at room temperatures, and the evolution of each property was analyzed. Based on experimental results, the long-term performance of concrete in a moderately elevated temperature environment is predicted.