The effect of concrete cover thickness subjected to elevated temperatures

Abstract

Concrete cover plays an important role in protecting the reinforcement from harmful environments and high temperatures. In this study, the effects of the concrete cover containing garnet and rebar prepared with cover thicknesses of 20 and 30 mm and subjected to temperatures of 20°C, 200°C, 400°C, 600°C and 800°C for 1-hour duration were determined by conducting ultrasonic-pulse velocity and tensile tests. The results of the study show that concrete specimens with cover 30 mm protect steel completely before they disintegrate, almost up to 300°C and by replacing sand with 40% of garnet, gives significantly better fire resistance than normal concrete.