Direct and In-Direct Strength Evaluation of Refractory Structural Elements Subjected to Temperature Cycles

Refractory structural elements used in the lining work of refractory are exposed to a more complex stress-strain behavior due to the temperature variation cycle. To investigate the performance of refractory structural elements, an attempt was made in this research to cast Aluminium Oxide, i.e., 80% Al2O3 castable in the form of cubes of 150 mm x 150 mm x 150 mm size and heated to different temperatures of 100°C to 800°C. Rebound Hammer Test, Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) test performed to evaluate compressive strength refractory structural elements qualitatively and quantitatively. Direct compressive strength of identical heated cube specimens investigated using a compression testing machine. The relationship between direct and indirect test results of compressive strength was established and compared. Four different grade bricks B-1, B-2, B-3, and B-4 heated to 800°C to study the formation of microcracks at high temperatures. The bricks were fired for 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 cycles up to 800°C and same used for UPV testing, Modulus of Rupture (MoR) tests. The study aimed to correlate direct and indirect strength results helpful in selecting suitable refractory materials in practice. UPV test values plotted with cube specimen heated at 100°C to 800°C revealed that UPV values decrease as temperature increases. The compressive strength of cubes increased with temperature due to the evaporation of water vapor in the matrix and the ceramic bonding effect, which increased cube compressive strength after heating. The graph of the relationship between MoR and UPV for all grade bricks at five heating cycles up to 800°C revealed thermal cracks observed in all B-2 bricks only after third loading cycles. For other specimens, the proportionality relationship between them is linear. The experimental outcome of research provides technical support for the selection of structural elements material in refractory