Fire retardation, compressive strength and durability analysis of concrete reinforced with novel plasters: An experimental, computational and statistical research

Abstract

Concrete is an essential component of the construction industry, valued for its high compressive strength (CS) and durability. However, when exposed to extreme conditions like fire without protective structural elements, its physical integrity deteriorates rapidly, leading to significant alterations in its mechanical properties. This research aims to provide a potential solution to this issue by assessing the fire resistance of various concrete samples, including unplastered (UNP), roughly plastered (RP), and those with contemporary insulation plaster (CIP) substitutions, at different thicknesses. These samples are subjected to varying temperatures and exposure times within an oven, followed by CS testing. These temperature levels and time intervals correspond to 300 °C, 450 °C, and 600 °C, with the time range is restricted to 60, 90, and 120-min, respectively. The results indicate that an increase in sample thickness correlates with a reduction in concrete degradation at high temperatures. Moreover, the findings reveal that after 120-min of exposure at 600 °C, UNP, RP, and CIP-reinforced samples achieve CSs of 27.435 MPa, 27.74 MPa, and 30.28 MPa, respectively. Notably, the 3 cm CIP-reinforced sample exhibits a CS exceeding 30 MPa under the most extreme conditions. The research incorporates regression and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses to complement the experimental investigation. The regression analysis suggests that CIP-reinforced samples can withstand temperatures up to 600 °C for approximately 173-min, while the study implies that they could endure temperatures as high as 861 °C during a 120-min exposure.