Compressive Strength of Self-Compacting Concrete during High-Temperature Exposure

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is being used in high-rise buildings and industrial structures which may be subjected to high temperatures during operation or in case of an accidental fire. The proper understanding of the effects of elevated temperatures on the properties of SCC is necessary. This paper reports the results of laboratory investigations carried out to study the effects of high temperatures ranging from room temperature to 800 degrees C on the compressive strength of different water-cement ratio SCC and high-strength concrete. It is found that the hot compressive strength of SCC decreases with increasing temperature. Compared with normal-strength SCC, high-strength SCC possesses a larger compressive strength exposed to high temperature. Another result of tests is that addition of polypropylene fibers decreased the strength and probability of explosive spalling.