Application of Results of Nondestructive Testing Methods in the Investigation of Microstructure of Refractory Concretes

Abstract

The aim of this investigation is to establish the correlation between concrete porosity, compressive mechanical strength, and microstructure using the results of nondestructive testing methods, i.e., ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and image analysis. Researchers and engineers usually use results of standard laboratory procedures in order to obtain mechanical properties of a material. That process is long and it requires large number of samples, i.e., a lot of time and lot of material. Image Pro Plus (IPP) and UPV are methods which can provide equally accurate results. These methods are much more simple, rapid, and cheaper. Nondestructive test methods were applied on the corundum and bauxite based refractory concretes. Investigated concretes are varying in chemical and mineralogical composition. Mechanical compressive strength of concrete samples after thermal treatment at various temperatures (110, 800, 1,000, 1,300, and