ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Fire safety of buildings and structures is an important issue, and has a great impact on human life and economy. One of the processes negatively affecting the strength of a concrete building or structure during fire is spalling. Many examples exist in which spalling of concrete during fire has caused severe damage to structures, such as during the fires in the Mont Blanc and Channel Tunnel. Especially newly developed types of concrete such as HPC and SCC, have shown to be sensitive to spalling, hampering the application of these new concrete types. To reduce risks and building costs, the processes behind spalling need to be understood. Increasing our knowledge allows us to predict and take effective and cost friendly preventive measures. One of the mechanisms that drives spalling of concrete, is the heating of the moisture present inside concrete. When concrete is heated water will evaporate, which results in a high gas pressure inside the pores of the concrete.
