Concrete spalling sensitivity versus microstructure: preliminary results on the effect of polypropylene fibers

The phisyco-mechanical processes triggering concrete explosive spalling are related to the heat-induced micro- and meso-structural changes. To have new information on concrete properties at the microstructural level, as well as on how concrete spalling sensitivity is affected by polypropylene and steel fibers, and by aggregate type, ordinary and high-performance concretes are investigated in this research project, after being heated to different temperatures. The focus is on the relationship among porosity, vapor permeability, pore pressure and microcracking inside the cementitious matrix. Polypropylene fibers are shown to increase the total porosity, to favor microcracking and to reduce significantly pore pressure, to the advantage of concrete resistance to explosive spalling, whose risk is markedly reduced – or even zeroed.