Edinburgh Napier University

  The effect of moisture loss at high temperatures on the brittleness of concrete was investigated by conducting three-point bending tests on preheated notched beams. The relationships of moisture loss represented by mass loss with heating temperature and exposure time could be established. Higher heating temperature always led to higher mass loss and lower brittleness. Longer exposure time led to higher mass loss and lower brittleness, but this effect was more significant at the early exposure stage and became insignificant thereafter. When concrete is exposed to high temperatures, the brittleness is reduced. The evaporation of gel water was more closely related to the brittleness.