Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Temperature on the Mechanical Properties of Lightweight Concrete Containing Steel Fibers

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran.

Abstract

Nowadays, the growth of building construction and the need of lighter but more performance materials are of interest. Adding to, fire incidents highlight the insufficient knowledge of the post fire material properties. Concrete should maintained to resist more and lost less mechanical properties when subjected to high temperatures. Hence, this study investigates the effects of elevated temperatures on the mechanical properties of lightweight concrete containing different volumetric percentage of steel fibers. Specimens were exposed to ambient temperature (25°C), 300°C, and 600°C. Results indicated that increasing the temperature to 300°C led to a relative improvement in compressive and tensile strength. However, at 600°C, a significant degradation in mechanical properties was observed. At 300°C, compressive and tensile strength increased by 12% and 8%, respectively. Conversely, at 600°C, compressive strength decreased by 45%, elastic modulus by 50%, and ultrasonic pulse velocity by 35%. Specimens with 1% steel fibers exhibited optimal performance at 300°C. These findings underscore the necessity of optimizing concrete mixtures with heat-resistant fibers to enhance durability under high-temperature conditions. The achievements of this research not only enhance structural fire safety but are also considered a significant step towards sustainable development by promoting the replacement of conventional dense materials with lightweight concrete.

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Main Subjects

References

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Available Online from 11 July 2025

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