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Influence of polypropylene and steel fibers in concretes subjected to high

temperature

Conference Paper · January 2015

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Title: Influence of polypropylene and steel fibers in concretes subjected to high
temperature

Authors: Nonna Yermak

Prosper Pliya
Anne-Lise Beaucour
Albert Noumowé
Alain Simon
ABSTRACT

The aim of the study is to improve the understanding of the influence of

formulation parameters, such as type and geometry of polypropylene (PP) and steel
(S) fibers, type of aggregate, cure conditions, on the behaviour of high strength
concretes subjected to high temperature. Firstly different concrete compositions
with various amounts of polypropylene and/or steel fibers were subjected to ISO
834 fire test. Secondly, two selected formulations were exposed to characterisation
test at a heating of 0.5°C/min. The initial and residual mechanical properties,
concrete mass loss and porosity were investigated. Results showed the changes in
porosity, compressive and splitting tensile strength which could be due to the
adding of PP and S fibers.

1. INTRODUCTION

Various researchers have shown that concrete thermal instability could be the
result of vapor pressure build-up mechanisms [1] and/or the restrained thermal
dilatation mechanisms [2]. The first is connected with the pressure increase in the
porous concrete network during heating and the second is associated with
dilatation/shrinkage gradients which take place on a concrete surface subjected to
high temperature. Parameters such as water content, porosity, permeability, type of
aggregates, heating rate have an influence on concrete thermal stability. Some
research has shown that the behaviour of concrete at high temperature can be
improved by adding polypropylene fibers and steel fibers. The melting (160°C-
170°C) and vaporization (350°C) of polypropylene fibers increase porosity and
permeability of concrete, which reduce the likelihood of explosive spalling [3].
According to [4], steel fibers significantly improve the residual bending strength of
concrete.
_____________
Nonna Yermak, PhD, L2MGC, University of Cergy - Pontoise, F-95000 Cergy-Pontoise
Prosper Pliya, Lecturer, University of Cergy - Pontoise, F-95000 Cergy-Pontoise
Anne-Lise Beaucour, Lecturer, University of Cergy - Pontoise, F-95000 Cergy-Pontoise
Albert Noumowé, Professor, University of Cergy - Pontoise, F-95000 Cergy-Pontoise
Alain Simon, Project Manager, EIFFAGE TP, 12, st. Hélène Boucher, F-93330 Neuilly
sur Marne

2
 One part of this work was to study the thermal stability of high strength concrete
containing PP and/or S fibers under ISO 834 fire curve. The second part was to
study influence of the fibers on the evolution of the physical and mechanical
properties of concrete as the function of the temperature during the slow heating.

2. EXPERIMENTAL SCHEDULE

2.1 Materials

The cement used was CEM I 52.5 N CE CP2 NF of “Villiers au Bouin”. The
limestone (C) and siliceous-calcareous (X) aggregates were used. Limestone
aggregates were composed of calcareous (87-91%) and quartz (9-13%). Siliceous-
calcareous aggregates were composed of flints (70-75%), calcium carbonate (20-
25%) and feldspaths (5%). The aggregates fractions were 0/4 (sand) and 4/10
(gravel). Monofilaments cylindrical PP fibres of Duomix M12 and Krampeharex
were used. The length of PP fibres was 12 mm (Duomix M12) and 6 mm
(Krampeharex). The nominal diameter was 32 µm. Dramix RC-80/30-CP steel
fibers were used. They were high carbon galvanized fibers with hooked ends. The
diameter of S fibers was 0.38 mm and the length was 30 mm.

2.2 Concrete components

TABLE I summarizes details of the mixture proportion for used concretes.

In this paper, polypropylene fibers concretes are indicated by CPP, steel fibers
concretes by CS, and the cocktail fibers concretes by CPPS. To study the fire
spalling sensitivity, all concretes were tested.
Three formulations with limestone aggregates were investigated in the second
part: concrete without fibers [Cref(C)], concrete with 60 kg/m3 of S fibers [CS 60]
and concrete with cocktail of fibers [CPPS 0.75-60] with 0.75 kg/m3 of PP fibers
and 60 kg/m3 of S fibers.
The water/cement ratio was 0.38, for all compositions (TABLE I). The slump of
concretes Cref ranged from16 to 21 cm and from 10 to 15 cm for CS and CPPS.

2.3 Curing conditions

Moisture content plays an important role in the phenomenon leading to fire

spalling. In the first part of this work, the effect of moisture content was studied.
According to Eurocode standard [5], when the moisture content by weight is less
than 3%, there is no risk of spalling phenomenon. In our case, three curing
conditions were used:
Mode 1: it is “non-drying concrete” condition according to RILEM (200-HTC).
Specimens were kept in their moulds the first seven days in order to avoid any
water evaporation and, then in sealed plastic bags at 20 ± 2°C at least during 90
days, until the heating. The average moisture content by weight was 4.7%.
Mode 2: it is “drying concrete” condition according to RILEM (200-HTC).
Specimens were kept in their moulds the first seven days and then in climate
chamber at a temperature of 20 ± 2°C with relative humidity of 50 ± 5% at least

3
during 90 days. Only one concrete [Cref(C) «drying»] was stored under this mode
and its moisture content by weight was 2.1%.
Mode 3: specimens were kept in their moulds the first seven days, then in sealed
plastic bags at least during 90 days. A pre-drying was performed 7 days before the
fire test in air-conditioned room at a temperature of 30°C and 20% of relative
humidity till the day of the tests. The average moisture content was 4.0%.
Specimens used on the second part were stored in non-drying condition (mode
1).

2.4 Heating tests

In the first part the 150x300 mm concrete cylinders (132 specimens) were
subjected to ISO 834 fire curve of 2 hours duration, in a large furnace (inner
dimensions of 7x5 m).
In the second part, 150x300 mm concrete cylinders and 100x100x400 mm
concrete prisms were subjected to various heating-cooling cycles from the room
temperature to 200°C, 300°C, 500°C, 600°C, 750°C, and 900°C. Each cycle
includes a phase of rise in temperature (0.5°C/min), a phase of temperature dwell
(one hour) and a phase of cooling. This slow heating ensures the homogeneity of
temperature in the specimen.
The type K thermocouples were used to monitor the temperatures of furnace,
concrete cylinder surface and centre. The thermocouple at the centre of the
specimen was placed during casting and is located at mid-height and mid-diameter.
The location of specimens in the furnace and the evolution of furnace temperature
are presented on Figure 1. The evolution of furnace temperature was compared to
standard curve ISO 834.

2.5 Tests after slow-heating

Compressive strength (fc): the compression test was carried out on four
cylindrical specimens ∅ 150 × 300 mm (diameter × height) with the loading rate of
0.5 MPa s-1. The test was in accordance with European standard EN 12390-3
(2012).
Flexural tensile strength (ft): the tests were carried out on three prismatic
specimens 100 × 100 × 400 mm with the loading rate of 0.05 MPa/s in accordance
with European standard EN 12390-5 (2012).
Ethanol porosity (P): each type of concrete was tested on four samples of
average mass 400 g. Porosity is obtained in according with French standard NF
P18-459 (2010).

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

3.1 Spalling sensitivity after ISO 834 fire test

TABLE I gives the moisture contents in weight of concretes.

4
 TABLE I. MIX PROPORTIONS OF CONCRETES

Mixture proportions [kg/m3] Moisture content in

Concretes Ce Gravel Eff. Superplasti weight (%)
Sand S- PP-
men 4/10 0/4 wat cizer (dry F
F Mode 1 Mode 3
t er extract)
Cref (C) 475 884 885 181 1 - - 4.7 ± 0.1 4.0 ± 0.4
Cref(C)
475 884 885 181 1 - - 2.1 ± 0 - Mode 2
«drying»
Cref (X) 475 804 816 181 0.86 - - 5.2 ± 0.2 4.3 ± 0.3
CPP 0.75 475 883 885 181 1.14 - 0.75 4.1 ± 0.1 3.7 ± 0.5
CPP 1.5 475 883 885 181 1.14 - 1.5 5.0 ± 0.4 4.1 ± 0.4
(12 mm)
CPP 1.5 475 883 885 181 1.14 - 1.5 4.4 ± 0.1 4.0 ± 0.2
(6 mm)
CS 60 475 866 867 181 2.85 60 - 4.5 ± 0.5 4.1 ± 0.1
CPPS 0.75-30 475 873 874 181 2.42 30 0.75 4.7 ± 0.1 3.9 ± 0.2
CPPS 1.5-30 475 873 874 181 2.42 30 1.5 4.8 ± 0.3 4.1 ± 0.4
CPPS 0.75-60 475 865 867 181 2.99 60 0.75 4.7 ± 0.2 3.8 ± 0.2
CPPS 1.5–30 475 796 807 181 1.85 30 1.5 4.8 ± 0.1 4.3 ± 0.1
(X)

There is no spalling occurrence for concretes without fibres, whatever the

moisture content was. Nevertheless, siliceous-calcareous concretes [Cref (X)]
exhibit crater formed spalling on cylinder surface and a high density of cracks
(Figure 2a).
This is due to the unstable nature of flint aggregates that splits between 300°C
and 400°C [6].
Concretes containing 60 kg/m3 of steel fibers [CS60] showed a severe spalling
after 24 minutes heating (furnace temperature of 850°C and specimen centre
temperature of 137°C) with 27% of the concrete lateral surface being ejected
(Figure 2b). The min and max depth of spalling were 0.5 and 3 cm respectively.

1200

1000
Tf
800 max

600 ISO
834
400
Tf
200 min

0
0 30 60 90 120 150

(a) (b)
Figure 1 Location of the test specimens during ISO 834 fire – (a), and time-temperature curve in the furnace compared to
standard curve ISO 834 (b)

5
 (a) (b)
Figure 2 [Cref (X)] – (a), and [CS 60] – (b) concretes after ISO 834 fire

The addition of 0.75 kg/m3 of PP fibers prevented spalling of concrete

containing 60 kg/m3 of S fibers.
During these tests, the water content of the concrete before heating, which
varied between 2.1% and 5.2%, seemed to have no influence on the temperature
rise.

3.2 Evolution of concrete properties with temperature

In the second part of the study, the [Cref(C)], [CS 60] and [CPPS 0.75-60]
mixes were used for understanding the adverse effect of S fibers and the favorable
influence of PP fibers on the spalling. The temperature and mass transfers as well as
porosity tests were carried out. These specimens were heated at 80°C, 200°C and
500°C. The cycle temperatures were chosen according to the behaviour of PP fibres
during the heating: melting (160-165°C) and vaporization (360°C). The slow
heating tests (300°C, 600°C, 750°C, 900°C) on [CPPS 0.75-60] concrete helped to
quantify the improvement of mechanical properties, induced by cocktail of fibers on
the post-fire behavior compared to [Cref(C)].
Before heating, the concrete specimens were kept in sealed plastic bags at 20 ±
2°C at least during 90 days. The average moisture content by weight was 5.1%.

TEMPERATURE, MASS TRANSFER AND POROSITY

Figure 3 presents the difference between the surface and the centre temperatures
during the slow heating.

Créf(C) CPPS
CS 60 CPPS 0,75-60
150 8
6,1
Tsurf-Tcentre (°C)

Mass loss, %

100 6 4,6 4,7 6,9

50
4
0 3,6 3,9
0 200 400 600 800 2
-50 0
0
-100
00 100 200 300 400 500
T(°C)
Tsurf (°C)
Figure 3 Evolution of the temperature difference between the Figure 4 Evolution of mass loss of CS 60 and CPPS concretes
surface and the centre of the specimen as function of surface as a function of the surface temperature
temperature
6
 Three sharp rises of the temperature difference could be explained by the
physical or chemical changes in the concrete. The first peak appeared at 300°C-
350°C and was due to the latent heat consumption (CSH dehydration and water
evaporation). The second peak appeared at 600-650°C and was due to Portlandite
dihydroxylation. The third peak begun at 800-900°C and could be explained by
calcite decarbonation of limestone aggregates.
We can notice that the first peak of CPPS occurred earlier (300°C) than that of
[Cref(C)] (330°C). It could be due to the PP fibers melting and a difference in free
moisture content capacity.
Figure 4 shows the evolution of [CS 60] and [CPPS 0.75-60] concretes mass
loss with temperature. From 20°C to 200°C the mass loss of [CPPS 0.75-60] was
greater than that of [CS 60]. It can be explained by the difference in moisture
content by volume: W0 [CS 60] = 7.7%, W0 [CPPS 0.75-60] = 8.3%. The mass loss
difference of [CS 60] and [CPPS 0.75-60] concretes between 80°C and 200°C was
almost constant: from 0.1% to 0.3 %. At 500°C the difference became more
significant: 1.4% and 2.2% respectively.
Figure 5 shows the evolution of absolute porosity and relative porosity of
[Cref(C)], [CS 60] and [CPPS 0.75-60] concretes as a function of heat treatment.
The [CS 60] concretes had a much lower porosity than [Cref(C)] (11% and
8.5% respectively), which could explain the spalling of [CS 60] concretes under
ISO 834 fire.
The addition of 0.75 kg/m3 of PP fibers created a low supplementary porosity
(0.5%) at 200°C. The scientific works of [7], [8], [9] have also shown the additional
porosity due to the PP fibers melting. Such porosity and mass loss increase may
partly explain the spalling lack of concretes including polypropylene fibers.

3.4 Mechanical properties

The results obtained on the two concretes [Cref(C)] and [CPPS 0.75-60] at room
temperature and after heat treatment are gathered in TABLE II. Compressive
strength and flexural strength were studied as a function of the surface temperature.
The relative residual strength was calculated by dividing the residual strength after
heating-cooling cycles by the strength of the unheated concrete. The standard
deviations (SD) of the mechanical properties are given for the room temperature.

Cref(C) CPPS 0,75-60 CS 60 Cref(C) CPPS 0,75-60 CS 60

17 200

15 150
PT/P80 (%)

13
(%)

100
11
50
9
7 0
0 100 200 300 400 500 200 500
T(°C) T (°C)

Figure 5 Evolution of absolute and relative porosity of [Cref(C)], [CS 60] and [CPPS 0.75-60] concretes as a function
of heat treatment

7
 Cref(C) CPPS 0,75-60
Créf(C) CPPS 0,75-60
100%
100%
fcT°/fc20

80% 80%

ftT°/ft20
60% 60%
40% 40%
20% 20%
0% 0%
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 T(°C) 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
T(°C)
Figure 7 Relative residual flexural tensile strength of
Figure 6 Relative residual compressive strength of [Cref(C)],
[Cref(C)], [CPPS 0.75-60] concretes as a function of
[CPPS 0.75-60] concretes as a function of the temperature
temperature

For the two types of concretes the residual compressive strength decreased with
the temperature (Figure 6). The significant loss of strength appeared between 300
and 600°C and continued to spread until 900°C. This strain loss slope on Figure 6
was similar for the concretes with and without fibers.
It is interesting to notice that at the temperature of 900°C the improvement of
residual compressive strength of CPPS 0.75-60 was almost zero.
The flexural tensile strength decreased gradually with the rise in temperature
with or without fibers (Figure 7).
At the temperature of 600°C two concretes lose approximately 50% of their
initial strength. The more important difference in relative flexural tensile strength
between two concretes was 7%, which appeared at 750°C.
At 900°C the decreasing of residual flexural strength was sharper. Furthermore,
the intersection of the [Cref(C)] and [CPPS 0.75-60] curves appeared. We suppose
that it was due to the loss of mechanical properties of steel fibers. We have noticed
the differences in failure mechanism between 300°C, 600°C and 900°C. After the
test on CPPS at 300°C only a small crack in the middle of the specimen appeared.
There were no broken S fibers; fibers were pulled out, whereas the 900°C CPPS
concrete was failed abruptly during the test. This failure mode after 900°C can be
explained by oxidation or corrosion of the S fibers at high temperatures. [10]
noticed the beginning of oxidization phenomena at 500°C. After 700°C the
corrosion phenomenon becomes more important: at 700°C the oxide layers
thickness is about 30 µm and at 800°C it is about 75µm, whether 84% of the section
is damaged.
It is interesting to notice that the ductility of [CPPS 0.75-60] concrete is retained
until 600°C.

4. CONCLUSION

In this investigation, specimens of various concretes compositions were made

and subjected to ISO 834 fire test. Three selected formulations were exposed to
characterisation tests (low heating rate). Concretes mass loss, porosity and residual
mechanical properties were studied.

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 TABLE II. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AS A FUNCTION OF THE TEMPERATURE

Measured Temperature
Concretes
parameter (°C)
20 SD 300 600 750 900
Compressive Cref(C) 65.2 0.7 58.4 36.0 18.1 6.4
strength fc,
CPPS
(MPa) 81.3 0.8 83.4 56.4 34.0 10.1
0.75-60
Flexural Cref(C) 7.4 0.1 5.9 3.7 2.3 1.0
tensile
strength ft, CPPS 10.9 0.1 9.0 5.7 4.2 1.2
(MPa) 0.75-60

Several conclusions could be made from this study:

 No explosive spalling was observed for different conservation modes tested
in the first part of the study regardless the free moisture content of the
specimens before heating which varies between 2 % and 5 %.
 The [CS60] concrete with 60 kg of S fibers showed a severe spalling under
ISO fire curve with a 27% of cylinder surface being detached.
 The additional porosity, created by the melting and evaporation of PP fibers
of the [CPPS 0.75-60], contributed to prevent spalling of [CS 60] concrete
during the ISO heating.
 Residual mechanical characteristics of [CPPS 0.75-60] concrete were better
than that of [Cref(C)] concrete. From 300°C to 750°C, the [CPPS 0.75-60]
concrete showed a compressive strength gain of 13.7%. The most significant
compressive strength loss appeared from 300°C to 600°C.
 900°C was a crucial point for the fibers impact on mechanical behaviour.
The loss of mechanical properties of steel fibers was noticed on compressive
and flexural strength of the [CPPS 0.75-60] concrete. This change of
properties could be due to oxidization and corrosion of the S fibers.
This study showed the improvement of the residual mechanical properties of
concretes incorporating the cocktail of PP and S fibers until 900°C. It would be
interesting to test higher heating-cooling to complete the understanding of the
behaviour of S fibers before and after 900°C.

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