Effect of Elevated Temperatures on Compressive and Tensile Strengths of Reactive Powder Concrete

Abstract

An experimental investigation was conducted on the effect of elevated temperatures on mechanical properties of reactive powder concrete (RPC), mainly on compressive strength, flexural strength and splitting tensile strength. Reactive powder concrete was prepared using cement, silica fume, fine sand and steel fibers to cast and test 128 specimens (cubes, cylinders and prisms) with various steel fibers ratios of 0%, 1%, 2% and 3% at temperatures of 20^°C, 200^°C, 400^°C and 600^°C. Results generally show that the decrease in compressive strength, flexural strength and splitting tensile strength become larger when temperature exceeds 400^°C. At 600^°C the decreasing ratios were 17.8%, 38.87% and 58.58% for compressive strength, flexural strength and splitting tensile strength, respectively. Explosive spalling of RPC at elevated temperatures was also observed and discussed.