Experimental Investigation of the Residual Physical and Mechanical Properties of Foamed Concrete Exposed to High Temperatures

Abstract

Foamed concrete has been widely used in building energy conservation and insulation engineering, and its fire resistance is very important for buildings under fire. However, due to high porosity and permeability, the properties of foamed concrete are liable to change under high temperatures. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the performance and functional evolution of foamed concrete at high temperatures. In this study, foamed concrete specimens with three different densities were treated at five different temperatures. The changes of macroscopic appearance and pore structure for the foamed concrete specimens under high temperature were analyzed to reveal the damage mechanism of temperature effects on foamed concrete. Besides, the high-temperature effect on the mass loss, water absorption, and compressive strength of the specimens were investigated. In addition, a prediction model of compressive strength for the foamed concrete considering the coupling effect of temperature and density was proposed.