Bushfire-Resistant Lightweight Masonry Blocks with Expanded Perlite Aggregate
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Experimental Program
2.1. Materials
2.1.1. Cement
2.1.2. Sand
2.1.3. Expanded Perlite
2.2. Mix Design
2.3. Details of Mixing
- (a)
- Fine aggregates were added to the mixer and mixed for ½ min;
- (b)
- Cement was added and covered with aggregates to minimize the loss of cement powder during mixing;
- (c)
- After 1 min of mixing, the effective water quantity was added and mixing was continued for another 1 min;
- (d)
- The mix was kept at rest for 2 min, then mixing was started again for another 2 min.
2.4. Details of Tests
2.4.1. Workability of Fresh Cement Mix
2.4.2. Fresh Density
2.4.3. Compressive Strength
2.4.4. Hardened Density
2.4.5. Water Absorption
2.4.6. Fire Resistance of Masonry Blocks
3. Results
3.1. Standard Cement–Sand (C-S) mix
3.1.1. Bushfire Test of C-S Block
3.1.2. Building Fire Test of C-S Block
3.2. Cement–Expanded Perlite (C-PE) Mixes
3.2.1. Bushfire Test of C-PE Blocks
3.2.2. Building Fire Test of C-PE Blocks
4. Discussion
4.1. Properties of Fresh Cement Mixes
4.1.1. Workability
4.1.2. Fresh Density
4.2. Properties of Hardened Cement Mixes
4.2.1. Density
4.2.2. Compressive Strength
4.2.3. Water Absorption
4.2.4. Fire Resistance
Bushfire Resistance
Building Fire Resistance
5. Conclusions
- -
- The Cement–Sand (C-S) mix achieved the highest density and compressive strength and the lowest water absorption.
- -
- C-S masonry blocks reached the bushfire shelter interior surface temperature limit of 70 °C in 30 min and achieved only 90 min (-/90/90) of building fire resistance level.
- -
- All the Cement–Expanded Perlite (C-PE) mixes satisfied the oven dry density requirement for lightweight concrete masonry units, and all except the C-PE 100 mix can be used to produce load-bearing solid masonry units.
- -
- The workability, density, and compressive strength of all the expanded perlite mixes showed a negative correlation with the quantity of expanded perlite aggregate, while water absorption showed a positive correlation.
- -
- The bushfire and building fire resistance of masonry blocks made of cement mixes showed a positive correlation with the quantity of expanded perlite aggregate.
- -
- Considering the bushfire shelter interior surface temperature limit of 70 °C and the crack intensity on the fire and ambient side surfaces of the blocks after the bushfire test, the C-PE 60 block appears to be the most suitable for use in the external walls of bushfire shelters.
- -
- None of the expanded perlite blocks failed the insulation and integrity criteria during three hours of standard fire exposure, i.e., all the expanded perlite blocks had a minimum fire resistance level of three hours (-/180/180).
- -
- Considering its lightweight density, load-bearing strength requirements for solid masonry units, low water absorption level, low ambient side surface temperatures, and low crack intensity after bushfire and building fire exposure, the C-PE 60 block is recommended as the most suitable expanded perlite masonry unit for use in the external walls of bushfire shelters and other buildings in bushfire-prone areas.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
(C-S) | Cement–Sand |
(C-PE) | Cement–Expanded Perlite |
(SSD) | Saturated Surface Dry |
(SEM) | Scanning Electron Microscope |
(BAL-FZ) | Bushfire Attack Level Flame Zone |
(FRL) | Fire Resistance Level |
FL | Fire Left |
FM | Fire Middle |
FR | Fire Right |
AL | Ambient Left |
AM | Ambient Middle |
AR | Ambient Right |
(ABCB) | Australian Building Codes Board |
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Fe2O3 | Mn3O4 | TiO2 | CaO | K2O | SO3 | SiO2 | Al2O3 | MgO | Na2O | LOI | Others | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cement | 3.294 | 0.146 | 0.251 | 62.792 | 0.657 | 2.32 | 19.401 | 4.329 | 3.108 | 0.108 | 3.08 | 0.514 |
Expanded perlite | 0.918 | 0.061 | 0.119 | 0.899 | 3.443 | 0.011 | 73.497 | 12.059 | 0.133 | 3.902 | 3.22 | 1.738 |
Material | C-S (C-PE 0) | C-PE 100 | C-PE 80 | C-PE 60 | C-PE 40 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cement (kg/m3) | 478.0 | 480.2 | 480.2 | 467.7 | 467.7 |
Sand (kg/m3) | 1380.1 | 0 | 275.0 | 561.8 | 842.7 |
Expanded Perlite (kg/m3) | 0 | 390.5 | 312.4 | 239.4 | 159.6 |
Effective Water (kg/m3) | 286.8 | 288.1 | 288.1 | 280.6 | 280.6 |
Fresh Density (kg/m3) | 2145 | 1159 | 1356 | 1550 | 1751 |
Test | Specimen Dimensions |
---|---|
L: Length, W: Width, H: Height, Ø: Diameter | |
Compressive strength | Cylinder (100 mm Ø × 200 mm H) |
Hardened density | Cylinder (100 mm Ø × 200 mm H) |
Oven dry density | Cylinder (150 mm Ø × 300 mm H) |
Water absorption | Cylinder slices (100 mm Ø × 50 mm H) |
Fire resistance | Solid block (390 mm L × 90 mm W × 190 mm H) |
Mix | Slump (mm) | Fresh Density (kg/m3) | Compressive Strength (N/mm2) | Hardened Density (kg/m3) | Oven Dry Density (kg/m3) | Water Absorption % (kg/m3) | Insulation Failure Time (min) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C-S | 35 | 2114 Average | 33.5 33.7 33.7 33.6 | 2143 2161 2147 2150 | - | 9.3 (181) 8.6 (172) 9.1 (181) 9.0 (178) 9.0 (178) | 115 |
C-PE 100 | 20 | 1138 | 3.3 3.0 3.6 | 1224 1187 1171 | Less than 1458 | 49.6 (403) 51.6 (414) 50.2 (400) 52.2 (407) | >180 |
Average | 3.3 | 1194 | 50.9 (406) | ||||
C-PE 80 | 100 | 1287 | 7.1 7.2 7.6 | 1384 1395 1392 | Less than 1458 | 34.4 (356) 32.4 (348) 30.3 (337) 35.5 (358) | >180 |
Average | 7.3 | 1390 | 33.2 (350) | ||||
C-PE 60 | 180 | 1524 | 11.2 11.0 11.7 | 1571 1591 1609 | Less than 1458 | 20.9 (280) 22.9 (295) 23.9 (301) 23.4 (298) | >180 |
Average | 11.3 | 1590 | 22.8 (294) | ||||
C-PE 40 | 210 | 1755 | 16.1 16.7 16.9 | 1802 1797 1808 | 1458 | 15.1 (236) 16.8 (256) 16.8 (257) 17.3 (262) | >180 |
Average | 16.5 | 1802 | 16.5 (253) |
Performance Criteria | C-S | C-PE 100 | C-PE 80 | C-PE 60 | C-PE 40 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A crack from the fire side face to the ambient side face greater than 3 mm | No | No | No | No | No | |
Combustibility | No | No | No | No | No | |
Initial avg. ambient side temperature (°C) | 20 | 24 | 15 | 30 | 18 | |
Initial avg. ambient side temperature at the end of heating phase (°C) [Rise in avg. ambient side temperature during the heating phase * (°C)] | 71 [51 *] | 29 [5 *] | 23 [8 *] | 41 [11 *] | 56 [38 *] | |
Maximum of the avg. ambient side temperature for the duration of 90 min (°C) [Maximum rise of the avg. ambient side temperature for the duration of 90 min *(°C)] | 89 [69 *] | 45 [21 *] | 48 [33 *] | 65 [35 *] | 79 [61 *] | |
Avg. ambient side temperature at the end of cooling phase (°C) | 76 | 44 | 47 | 62 | 67 | |
Surface cracks on | Fire side | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ambient side | No | No | Yes | No | No | |
Top | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Bottom | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Sides | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Surface discoloration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Performance Criteria | C-S | C-PE 100 | C-PE 80 | C-PE 60 | C-PE 40 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Any specific observations during the fire test | Spalling & moisture | No | No | No | No | |
Avg. fire side temperature at the end of three hours of fire exposure (°C) [Rise in avg. fire side temperature * (°C)] | 1094 [1074 *] | 1061 [1038 *] | 1105 [1085 *] | 1098 [1074 *] | 1080 [1057 *] | |
Avg. ambient side temperature at the end of three hours of fire exposure (°C) [Rise in avg. ambient side temperature * (°C)] | 242 [222 *] | 57 [34 *] | 72 [52 *] | 118 [93 *] | 156 [133 *] | |
A crack from the fire side face to the ambient side face greater than 3 mm | No | No | No | No | No | |
Insulation failure (min) | 115 | >180 | >180 | >180 | >180 | |
Fire resistance level (FRL) | -/90/90 | -/180/180 | -/180/180 | -/180/180 | -/180/180 | |
Surface cracks on | Fire side | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ambient side | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | |
Top | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Bottom | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Sides | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Surface discolouration | Yes (whitish colour) | Yes (whitish colour) | Yes (whitish colour) | Yes (whitish colour) | Yes (whitish colour) |
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Ariyaratne, I.E.; Ariyanayagam, A.; Mahendran, M. Bushfire-Resistant Lightweight Masonry Blocks with Expanded Perlite Aggregate. Fire 2022, 5, 132. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire5050132
Ariyaratne IE, Ariyanayagam A, Mahendran M. Bushfire-Resistant Lightweight Masonry Blocks with Expanded Perlite Aggregate. Fire. 2022; 5(5):132. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire5050132
Chicago/Turabian StyleAriyaratne, Indunil Erandi, Anthony Ariyanayagam, and Mahen Mahendran. 2022. "Bushfire-Resistant Lightweight Masonry Blocks with Expanded Perlite Aggregate" Fire 5, no. 5: 132. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire5050132