Measurement systems to detect the time-dependant development of concrete spalling under fire exposure

In order to analyse the behaviour of concrete under fire exposure experimental investigations are used [1]. This practice is expensive and very time-consuming. So, it is essential to get as most suitable information out of such experiments as possible. At the present, most standard experiments are only capable of comparing a condition of concrete before and after the experiments [1]. Unfortunately, information of the time-dependent development of the damaging process cannot be resolved. In order to fully understand the mechanism of dynamic concrete damage under fire exposure, this information is crucial. Therefore, it is necessary to develop measurement systems which are able to monitor and detect the entire exposure process and its consequences. These systems should be applied additionally to the temperature monitoring, the visual inspection and a weighting of the specimen before and after the experiments. For this purpose volume-oriented non-destructive testing methods are considered. It is possible to use ultrasonic systems or impact-echo methods, but the most suitable are acoustic emission techniques. With this method it is possible to monitor damage processes of the complete specimen volume and during the whole time of the experiments. The paper will present results of experimental investigations where such systems have been successfully applied to test the feasibility, practicability and the usefulness of different measurement systems to verify the time-dependant development of concrete spalling under fire exposure.