FIRE FLAME EFFECT ON THE STRENGTH OF SELF – COMPACTING CONCERETE

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effect of fire flame on some mechanical properties of self-compacting concrete specimens. To determine the workability, different test methods are adopted in this research such as slump-flow, T50 slump-flow, L-box, U-box and V-funnel. The concrete specimens were subjected to fire flame at the lower surface only to reach temperatures around 400,500 and 600 °C for one hour, then they were cooled gradually to room temperature. After that, they were tested for weight loss, compression, splitting and flexural and compared with specimens not subjected to fire flame (reference mix). Based on the results of this work, it may found that the compressive strength of self- compacting concrete decreases with fire temperature exposure. The residual values of compressive strength were (71-88) % of the strength for the reference specimens. The flexural strength is more sensitive to fire flame temperatures. The residual flexural strengths were in the range of (58- 81) % of the flexural strength for the reference specimens. The splitting tensile strength was extra sensitive than the compressive strength. The residual splitting tensile strength were in the ranges of (58- 90) % of the splitting strength for the reference specimens. The weight loss of concrete specimens increases with increasing fire temperature. The reduction in weight loss ranged between (3.47-6.17) % relative to reference specimens.