Volume 4, No. 2, 2010
Received: 2010/03/09, Accepted:
Authors:
Belkacem Toumi; Musa Resheidat;
Abstract:
Surface concrete cracking is a visible type of damage that has significantly adverse effects on the mechanical
properties and durability properties of concrete. This paper presents an experimental study on the
identification and quantification of surface cracking of concrete heated to different temperatures ranging from
105 to 1250ºC. In addition to the quantification of the residual compressive strengths of concrete after high
temperature exposure, both initial surface absorption and total porosity were measured. The crack density was
determined using a flat bed scanner and then images were treated using paint shop pro program. The total
porosity was obtained using ASTM boiling. The mechanical properties of concrete were largely affected by
temperatures beyond 500°C and were very feeble when temperatures exceeded 1000°C. The surface cracks'
density, initial surface absorption and total porosity by boiling methods gave a rapid indication on concrete
durability.
Keywords:
Temperature, Cracks, Surface absorption, Porosity, Image processing