Frontiers in Materials (Jan 2022)

Effects of Low-Cost Repair Techniques on Restoration of Mechanical Properties of Fire-Damaged Concrete

  • Muhammad Noman,
  • Muhammad Noman,
  • Muhammad Yaqub,
  • Muhammad Abid,
  • Muhammad Ali Musarat,
  • Nikolai Ivanovich Vatin,
  • Muhammad Usman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmats.2021.801464
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Researchers have conducted numerous investigations on various repair techniques to restore the mechanical properties of fire-damaged concrete. However, most of the techniques are either expensive or require high technical skills. As a continuous work, this study involved an experimental investigation of the effects of various low-cost repair techniques to restore the mechanical properties of fire-damaged concrete. Sixty cylindrical concrete samples were subjected to heat ranging from 400°C to 800°C in a propane gas furnace. The samples were categorized into six groups, including the following: undamaged, fire-damaged, and fire-damaged and repaired using water curing; fire-damaged and repaired using cement-based slurry injection; re-curing fire-damaged and repaired with steel wire mesh along with epoxy resin wrapping; and fire-damaged and repaired using epoxy injection. The samples were tested for non-destructive and destructive tests, including ultrasonic pulse velocity, rebound hammer, and compressive strength. The results showed that the use of cement-based slurry injection along with the water-curing repair technique could regain almost 90% of its ultimate strength and secant stiffness, making it the most effective low-cost repair technique for fire-damaged concrete exposed up to 700°C.

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