Investigation on Key Influencing Factors Affecting Temperature Distribution in Concrete

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Concrete is an unavoidable composite material used in buildings and structures. The behavior of concrete under the effect of fire is always critical, causing more structural damage. This research proposes experimental investigation on various factors that affect temperature distribution in concrete when exposed to fire. Water cement ratio, grade of concrete, curing period, type of admixtures, and fibers are the factors taken into consideration. The test was carried out in the temperature range of 100 °C to 600 °C. The temperature was measured at various depths of the specimen and then compared. Results from experiments show that grade of concrete, water-cement ratio, curing period and admixture type significantly influences the temperature distribution in concrete whereas contribution of fiber type is negligible. Comparison of temperature distribution at 25 mm from the bottom of specimen at 600 °C for M20 grade with 0.5 and 0.4 water cement ratio was done. It is found that temperature distribution in concrete goes higher as water cement ratio goes higher. There is an increase of 22.6% of temperature distribution for 0.5 water cement ratio than 0.4. Concrete samples which were cured for 14 days, and 28 days were tested, temperature distribution in concrete cured for 14 days is higher than that cured for 28 days. It is because of the curing time of calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) gel, and it was not fully matured and there was no moisture to finish the hydration process of cement.