Explosive Spalling of High Strength Concrete

It is internationally recognised that our laboratory was the first in the world to detect that high strength concrete densified by silica fume has a much higher risk of spalling than ordinary concrete. Since this discovering many tests followed in our laboratory and at other institutions all over the world, and we are still hunting a model describing the processes involved. In summer 1994, a fire under the construction of the Great Belt tunnel gave rise to extensive explosive spalling of concrete and the same occurred during a fire in the tunnel between Britain and France. This has increased the actuality of the research.