Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/227605

Title

Effect of aggregate size on spalling of geopolymer and Portland cement concretes subjected to elevated temperatures

Author(s)

Pan, Zhu;  Sanjayan, Jay G.;  Kong, Daniel L. Y.

Abstract

This paper presents a study on the effect of aggregate size on spalling of concrete in fire. Three concretes with completely different chemical compositions and strengths were investigated, namely, geopolymer concrete and high strength and normal strength Portland cement concretes. The effect of aggregate size was found to be the same regardless of the type of concrete. The concretes containing 10 mm aggregates spalled while the ones with 14 mm did not spall. Since this effect is the same in geopolymer and Portland cement concretes, it is independent of binders' chemical compositions. This paper shows that the degree of spalling has a good correlation to the fracture process zone length, which increases with increasing aggregate size; this in turn reduces the flux of kinetic energy from pore pressure and thermal stress that is released into the fracture front and thereby improves the spalling resistance.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences

Source

Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 36 (Nov 2012), pp. 365-372

Publication year

2012

FOR Code(s)

0905 Civil Engineering;  1202 Building

Keyword(s)

Aggregates;  Alkali activated cement;  Explosive spalling;  Particle size distribution;  Portland cement;  Temperature

Publisher

Elsevier

ISSN

0950-0618

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.04.120

Copyright

Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Peer reviewed