EFFECT OF HIGH TEMPERATURES ON NON-STRUCTURAL LIGHT CONCRETE WITH EPS

Abstract

The concept of lightweight concrete with expanded polystyrene (EPS) came about with the development of concrete technology and the constant concern with the issue of sustainability. However, for the advantages of lightweight concrete to be exploited, it is necessary, for reasons of safety, to study its performance in the most varied situations in which it may be submitted. The knowledge of the residual behavior of non-structural lightweight concrete with expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads after a fire situation and rapid cooling is of fundamental importance, so that the harmful effects caused by fires can be reduced, since concrete structures eventually are exposed to fire situations controlled by rapid water cooling. Therefore, this work aims to analyze the residual behavior of lightweight concrete with EPS beads after being subjected to high temperatures and rapid cooling. For this, the specimens were subjected to heating via an oven and gasoline that follows the standard fire curve up to certain predefined levels, and then they were subjected to rapid cooling. The determination of the mechanical properties occurred through the Normal Compression and Traction by Diametral Compression tests. The results obtained evidence loss of compressive strength and tensile strength due to diametrical compression after heating the samples in the oven and gasoline. The results of this work reinforce the importance of studying the behavior of concrete under high temperatures from a fire.