Mesoscale experimental investigation of thermomechanical behaviour of the carbon textile reinforced refractory concrete under simultaneous mechanical loading and elevated temperature

Abstract

In comparison with carbon fiber reinforced polymer material, the carbon textile reinforced concrete (TRC) is usually coted to have a better fire behaviour. The aim of this paper is to analyse the elevated temperature behaviour of TRC. This paper presents the experimental results conducted on carbon TRC at mesoscale in the range of temperature from 25 °C to 700 °C. The carbon TRC consists of refractory matrix and carbon textile which has been treated with amorphous silica products for a good bond with the cement matrix. As a result, carbon TRC showed the strain-hardening behaviour with different phases and brittle behaviour depending on the temperature. The evolution of carbon TRC properties with elevated temperature (the ultimate stress, the crack stress, the initial stiffness) was experimentally identified. The mechanical property evolution of carbon textile and refractory concrete (the ultimate strength, the Young’s modulus) depending on temperature was also presented. The thermal tests on carbon TRC cylinder specimens were also performed to identify the diffusivity coefficient of this composite. All results obtained were analyzed in order to find the contribution of carbon textile and refractory matrix to fire resistance of carbon TRC. Its ultimate strength has been improved about 2 times compared with non-reinforced matrix at elevated temperature ranging from 25 °C to 400 °C. The efficiency coefficient of carbon textile could be calculated in this study.