NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS REPORT

QUARTERLY REPORT

ON

EVALUATION OF REFRACTORY QUALITIES OF

CONCRETES FOR JET AIRCRAFT WARM UP , POWER CHECK,

MAINTENANCE APRONS, AND RUNWAYS

by

W. L. Pendergast, E. C. Tuma , L. E. Mong

63 9 8

\\

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS
THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

Functions find Activities

The functions of the National Bureau of Standards are set forth in the Act of Congress, March

3, 1901, as amended by Congress in Public Law 619, 1950. These include the development and

maintenance of the national standards of measurement and the provision of means and methods

for making measurements consistent with these standard^; the determination of physical constants and properties of materials; the development of methods and instruments for testing materials,

devices, and structures; advisor) services to Government Agencies on scientific and technical

problems; invention and development of devices to serve special needs of the Government; and the

development of standard practices, codes, and specifications. The work includes basic and applied

research, development, engineering, instrumentation, testing, evaluation, calibration services, and

various consultation and information services. A major portion of the Bureau’s work is performed

for other Government Agencies, particularly the Department of Defense and the Atomic Energy

Commission. The scope 'of activities is suggested by the listing of divisions and sections on the

inside of the hack cover.

Reports and Publications

The results of the Bureau’s work take the form of either actual equipment and devices or published papers and reports. Reports are issued to the sponsoring agency of a particular project or program. Published papers appear cither in the Bureau’s own series of publications or in the

journals of professional and scientific societies. The Bureau itself publishes three monthly periodicals, available from the Government Printing Office: The Journal of Research, which presents

complete papers reporting technical investigations; the Technical News Bulletin, which presents

summary and preliminary reports on work in progress; and Basic Radio Propagation Predictions,

which provides data for determining the best frequencies to use for radio communications throughout

the world. There are also five scries of nonperiodical publications: The Applied Mathematics

Scries, Circulars, Handbooks, Building Materials and Structures Reports, and Miscellaneous

Publications.

Information on the Bureau’s publications can be found in NBS Circidar 460, Publications of

the National Bureau of Standards (#1.25) and its Supplement ($0.75), available from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington 25, 1). C.

Inquiries regarding the Bureau’s reports should be addressed to the Office of Technical Information, National Bureau of Standards. Washington 25, D. C.
NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS REPORT

QUARTERLY REPORT

ON

EVALUATION OF REFRACTORY QUALITIES OF

CONCRETES FOR JET AIRCRAFT WARM UP, POWER CHECK,

MAINTENANCE APRONS, AND RUNWAYS

W. L. Pendergast, E. C. Tuma , L. E. Mong

Refractories Section

Mineral Products Division

NBS PROJECT NBS REPORT

0903-20-4428 April 30, 1959 63 98

by

Sponsored by

Department of the Navy

Bureau of Yards and Docks

Reference: NT4-59/NY 420 008-1

NBS File No. 9.3/1134-C

Approved

Clarence H. Hahner

Assistant Chief

IMPORTANT NOTICE Mineral Products Divisi

NATIONAL BUREAU OT ST

intended To to additions

listing of th the Office o however, by the Government

to reproduce additional copit

i ^ OUV-II pCMIMCOlUII 10 IIUI IICCUCU, the Government on October 9 2015 prepared If that agency wishes

i onrlitiAnol /'An!

trogress accounting documents

S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
f
QUARTERLY REPORT

ON

EVALUATION OF REFRACTORY QUALITIES OF

CONCRETES FOR JET AIRCRAFT WARM UP, POWER CHECK,

MAINTENANCE APRONS, AND RUNWAYS

1. INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this project is the development of

criteria for the fabrication of jet exhaust resistant concretes. Concretes under development are evaluated by

exposure to hot gases from a combustion chamber. The combustion chamber delivers these gases at velocities and

temperatures approaching field conditions.

2. ACTIVITIES

2.1 X-ray Examinations of Neat Cements

The examinations of the neat Portland and Lumnite

cement pastes after heating under saturated steam pressure

to approximately 300°C and also after further heating at

atmospheric pressure at increasing temperatures to 800°C have

not been completed.

2.2 Blast Furnace Slag Concrete

A batch of concrete designed with blast furnace slag

and Portland cement was mixed during the period covered by

this report. The properties of the fresh concrete were as

f o Hows :

2

Proportion, by weight, of cement

to fine, to coarse aggregate

Cement Content sacks/yd^

1: 1.36:2.04

7.65

Vinsol resin, by weight of cement

pe r c e n t Water content, gallons/yd^

0.01

35.2

W/C ratio by weight 0.41

Air content, percent 4.7

Slump, inches 2.0

Rema rks Harsh, but placeable

The design was the same as that used for P-BF-3 appearing

in Table II of NBS Report 6269 except that Type I Portland

cement was substituted for Type III. Panels 18x18x6 inches

in size, 6x6x36 inch beams, 3x4x16 inch prisms, and 8x8x1

inch thermal conductivity specimens were fabricated and

cured for 28 days in the fog-room. The panels, beams, and

one set of prisms were sealed on all but the top surface

(as cast) upon removal from fog-room. A moisture-proof

plastic (polyethylene) envelope taped in place was used as

a seal. All specimens were then dried at 507° relative

humidity and 73°F for various periods of time before testing.

2.2.1 Panels

One panel was subjected to the jet impingement test

after 21 days drying, and a second panel after 28 days. The

jet blast had no apparent effect on either of these panels.
'

,

,

• '

:

.. :

?•;

• '• V

.

-
3

The loss in weight during the test was 0.3 27° and 0.157°

respectively, which could be attributed to Water loss. A

third panel, after 35 days drying was exposed to the equivalent of a two inch rainfall over a period of 24 hours and

immediately subjected to the jet test. During the wetting,

the panel increased in weight 0.507°, but decreased 0.4 87° during the jet impingement. This panel showed no explosive

spalling. Thermocouple measurements of temperature in this

panel indicated that the presence of the water from the rainfall treatment did not affect the temperature gradient as

compared with the gradients found in unwetted panels.

2.2.2 Be ams

The length of these beams, 36 inches, permitted two

flexural strength determinations to be made on each beam,

using an 18 inch span. One end of each of the six beams was

broken in flexure; two after 21 days drying, 2 after 28 days,

and two after 35 days. Immediately after breaking the remaining section of each beam was subjected to the jet blast and

then broken in flexure. Results of these tests appear in

Table I

Table

I.

Effect

of

Jet

Impingement

on

Strength

of

Blast-Furnace

Slag

Concrete 4

CO |Xw

CM|xVtHooA i—

c a

-H

at at co at

a

a at

G i—rG o 0 n) tH at rQ tH a Eh

)h

b

G > IT) o G at a O o o o o -H EH co pG 1 1 tH o X X X T> X) bt CM at a

•H tm It) c a -H

tn tH CO -rH * o s

P-, IT) <4h -H 1—

G X 0)

B

DO at 1—

X id e tH It) 0

rG it) IT) tH

a tH

a at at 0)

a

-rH o O o O

O LO rQ

a

B tH co

g CO c^-

OO 00 i—

Mi

a

G o • 0 a LO CM CD r—

CD i—1 at IT)G CO

a

tH C0 < a 0 a at O a co -i—

CO rG CO co tH at a a IT) at a • 0 •

it) i—

a

a rG

a

tn

a 0) o a co •H p-H c a at at co co id g It) rH -H pG r—

tH o- o a

at tH

a

a at

a

A

B

G IT)

X

a > X

at

X o G co CO

G co

a

tn at 10 -H it) id

G id 0 0 g i—

at )H CO i—

id

a -i—

•i—

4h H-ia

A 1 tH >i tn

a CO

g at 0) d) IT

J tn

a at

aaG o B at at G c O G o G O a IT) PQ pG -fH id a

*rl tH

a -iH o rH

O 1—

O i—

1—

1 EhGX o B G G G G CO a •H -rH

a >,

a

a -rH

B rG

a

0) <D at CO

D c G tn

a

-i—

pQ X! o a) CO 0) rG

a o

at IT)

G rX tH 0

CO

G

X at o 0 tH

G Ih at

B tH > a

a

O'

G •rH -rH

a -rH id

X

g at

a

a o a

-pHa -rH at CO id

X

X

a at

a

a

a

B r*H 0 0

CO Ih CO

G CO id 0 G co

0) o IT) 0) at tH Cr»

G

fH CO

G i

i X

a

A

a

a

O

a *rl o a

x

at it) M< i—1 1—1 oo oo

O 0 o -rH Q) tH X i—1 r-~

CM CM CM CM CM cna S 1/0 CO o at » CD at id o - - Mh rG CM CM CO co a a a

at

a CD id CO ,Q a at 0 0 id a tH a rG rG X Ih O o IT) tH a a o 0 a o -rH £ CO c G a co a tn id o tn % at at o 0 CO «-r -H -rH a a •rl a B

-H CO

X

a

G id 0

id at at co -fH o tn 0 o O Wj PQ < PQ < PQ X) a PQ a -rH G rQ Id

*rl 1—1 i—l CM CM CO CO S3

G

a -rH

a

a 1 1 1 1 1 1 at at at tH !>> 0 tH

-rH co CO co CO CO CO rG

A

a

X

O tH rG

G

a 1 1 1 1 1 1 Eh

a o -fH

a

a EH

W

G P-< Ph

a

a

aa

at PQ PQ PQ PQ PQ PQ X 1 1 1 1 1 1 —

M PH a a a a a 1-1 1 cm| CO|

5

2.2.3 Prisms

The 3x4x16 inch prisms were tested for flexural strength

after the same drying periods as the beams. For comparative

purposes one set of prisms was sealed on all but the top

surface (as cast) during the drying period, the second set

was not sealed. The results of these tests appear in

Table II.

2.3.1 Discussion of Beam Tests

During the jet impingement tests the jet blast was

directed perpendicular to the top surface, as cast, the beam

resting on its side. In the flexural test the loading was

at right angles to this direction.

Tests have indicated that during jet impingement, temperature approaching 500°C extend approximately one-half

inch below the test surface. Early work in this project has

shown that exposure to 500°C for five hours lowered the

flexural strength by approximately 507o. Assuming an extreme

case of total loss in strength in one inch of the beam

depth, a 15% loss in flexural strength might be expected but

not a 65% loss.

Table

II.

Effect

of

Moisture

Sealing,

During

Drying

Periods

on

Flexure

Strength

of

Concrete

Prisms 6 0

-d 4)

4-1 0 idd

O Ih

g

d

d 0 -d

O o o O 0 0 i—

d o -d X

T

TJ XI

a -(—i tj> <d to d b> d

EH Ph id 4-1 1—

X

(0 -d d b> in ID

O in in in

d

d

W co co to

O co co

X 0 a -d in in in in tD

a>

d

rH -d Ph CO %44 d

rH -rH

(D td IS d o o> o- o CD Q o r-H f—

o CO rH

4-1 • » » • • o d> r-H o CO i—

CO i—

d

to rH w d o d

t-3

Q i XI d O co

-rH -rH id to u id i—

i—oo oo in in

d a> XI CM CO CO CO co CO Q Ohdo

-rH H) -d k d

In o O •H CO

-d 4-h 1 CO CO d -rH CO co CO co co CO d -d 1 1 1 t 1 1 O d Ph Ph Ph Ph Ph Ph 0 PQ pq OQ oq m OQ d T) 1 i 1 1 1 1 1—

PH Oh

a Oh Oh Oh o

coO TS

44 <1) d

to Q) d to 0 d

-d 0 0 B d -rH O o d 0 o a o CO

4h 4-1 o o a 44 -d Ph o 0 o

-d CO CO

id 43 0

44 XI 0 -d d B id

id CO to 0 id -d -d 0 o -rH 44 d XI

-d 0 -rH X) B B d O CO 44 d

4-1

d 0 0 >

Tl -d -rH

0) -d -d

-d 0 id

id i—1 i—i o 0

-rH 0 d d 44

43 Eh

id

O

4-1

m in 0 i—i -d H id 0 0 £ i—i XI

43 0

co rd -rH d EH • d e XI B d d

-rH -rH -rH 0 O d 0 ts> d 0 a d XI

10 -rHd to 0 id d B

CO 0 -rH CO 0 a d -rH 44 a d d H id X) Oh

rH| CO| CO |

Based

on

weight

out

of

fog-room,

attributed

to

loss

of

water

7

The beams developed macroscopic crac

bottom surface from which water (perhaps

bubbled out during the test. See Figure

visible on the face exposed to the jet or

face. In the subsequent flexure test the

a section containing the two cracks.

ks at t he top an d

CO nden s ed stea m )

1 . No crackin g wa s

o n the o ppo s

t e

b reak o c cur re d in

/ /./A/6- £>/?/Ua//// 6 G^~ PO&T/QA/ Of

Susjscrfp ro J£r strfsT

Figure 1. LINE DRAWING OF PORTION OF BEAM

SUBJECTED TO JET BLAST

V

8

Since in an airfield slab the load and the jet blast

are applied on the same surface the loss in strength shown

by the tests in Table I is probably not indicative of

what would result in actual practice.

It is planned in future tests for the evaluation of

the strength loss due to rapid heating to apply the load in

a direction parallel to the jet impingement even though this

involves capping of the test specimen prior to making the

flexure test.

The observed cracking was possible due to stresses produced by differential thermal expansion, steam pressure

generated, or a combination of both. In an attempt to assess

the part played by each of these factors, specimens will be

slowly dried at successively increasing temperatures until

moistures eguilibrium at 110°C is achieved. Presumably jet

impingement on specimens in this condition will not involve

appreciable forces due to steam pressure.

2.3,2 Discussion of Prism Tests

The 3x4x16 inch prisms, sealed on all but one surface,

showed higher flexural strength than those not sealed, after

the 21, 28 and 35 day drying periods and suffered less loss

in water during the drying periods.

2.4.1 Examination of Aggregate

The characteristics of aggregate that are significant

in their performance in heat resistant concrete are being

studied

9

2*4.2 Exposure of Bare Aggregate to Jet Impingement

Water saturated specimens of the three rock samples

submitted by your laboratories at Port Hueneme were

exposed to the jet blast. One thousand grams of minus 1 1/2

inch and plus 1 inch of each rock sample was immersed in

water until saturated (maximum weight). The sized particles

of each rock were arranged in screen containers and placed

in the jet stream for 10 minutes. The contents of each container was rescreened and the decrease in the average particle size, caused by explosion spalling, calculated.

Sixteen percent of the Napa Basalt passed a No. 1 inch

screen, 5% of the Juarej Basalt, and 4% of the Napa Quarry.

These results were not unlike those obtained on samples

tested "as received".

2.4.3 Microscopic Examination

Thin sections of the thre>e rock samples heated at 800°C

were prepared and examined microscopically. This examination

did not disclose any major change in the minerals present.

Oxidation of the iron occurred in all samples. The Juarez

Basalt was the least affected by the heating, suffering only

a discolor izat ion of the glassy matrix.

2.4.4 Differential Thermal Analysis and Thermal

Gravimetric Analysis

A 200 milligram sample of each of two diabases, one

from a New York deposit and the second from Virginia, was

ground to pass a No. 270 sieve and heated at 6°C per minute
-

• '

I.
10

in a DTA-TGA unit. They were maintained at the top temperature for one hour and cooled at the same rate to room temperature. During this test the weight loss (water) of the

Virginia diabase was directly proportional to the temperature

up to 810°C. The New York diabase underwent an endothermic

reaction at approximately 700°C during which a 0.5% loss in

weight occurred. Above and below this temperature the

weight loss was a linear function of the temperature. The

total loss at the maximum temperature, 810°C, was 1.4% for

the Virginia diabase, and 2.75% for the New York.

2.5.1 Texture of Concrete

In an attempt to identify the open pores in concrete,

fluorescene solution was used to penetrate the concrete

under vacuum. An 8x8x2 inch concrete panel was placed in a

pan that contained a solution of fluorescene one quarter

inch in depth. A sponge rubber gasket and an inverted

funnel were placed on the top surface of the panel. The

funnel was connected to a vacuum pump and evacuated. Some

of the panels permitted passage of this solution, and subsequently air, through the top surface in five minutes.

Others did not permit the passage of the solution in an

hour. The panels were broken and the fractured surface

examined. Penetration of the solution was indicated by

fluorescence under black light. Penetration was most pronounced in the concrete panels containing an
*;

'> .

r-

' J

.

.

' • 5 .

:

• 'it'?

-
11

air-entraining agent and placed by the vacuum process.

Lesser penetration was evidenced in evacuated concrete not

containing an air-entraining agent, and no penetration was

evident in concrete placed by the conventional method. Concretes containing an air-entraining agent and placed by the

vacuum process have suffered no loss in the jet impingement

test.

2.6.1 Miscellaneous

On instructions from Mr. P. Knoop, of your staff, 1250

pounds of Virginia diabase was shipped to your Port Hueneme

laboratory. Seven hundred and fifty pounds of the aggregate

was screened through a 1 1/2 on 1 inch; five hundred pounds

through 1/2 and 3/8.

2.7.1 Conference

A conference was held at the Bureau on February 20,

The names of those attending follow:

P , P . Brown ) Melvin Herman) Bureau of Yards and Docks

L . A . Pa lme r )

C . H . Ha hne r ) R. L. Blaine ) National Bureau of Standards

B. E. Foster ) W . L . Pe nde rga s t

)

The object of the conference was to discuss the transfer

of the direction of this project from the Refractory to the

Concreting Materials Section. Mr. R. L. Blaine is Chief of

the latter section. Dr. Foster, his assistant, will direct

12

the project. A brief review of the work accomplished during

the first seven months of the fiscal year was reported and

discussed. Topics of study for the next fiscal year were

sugge sted

.

USCOMM-NBS -DC

tt. S. DEPABTMENT OK COMMERCE

Lewtft !j. StHUt**, Srrrfitrtty

NATIONAL mmlCAU OP STANDARDS

A. V. Afttiil, l)lrr.c.l.or TJIK rVATIOIVAI, 1IIJRRAIT OF STAIVOAJSOS

The scope of Activities of the National Bureau of Slumlords ol its headquarters in Washington,

|), C., rind its tnnjor Inhorntories in Boulder, Colo., is suggested in the following listing of the

divisions and sections engaged lo technical work. In general, each section carries out specialized

research, development, and engineering in the field indicated hy Its title. A brief ‘description of

the activities, and of (he rcsilltnnt publications, appears on the inside front cover. WASHINGTON, IV. €.

KIlHttrielty Wlll'Kl««lroillfif». Resistance and Reactance. Electron Devices. Electrical InBtriltnents. Magnetic Measurements. Dielectrics, Engineering Electronics. Electronic Instru- mentation. Electrochemistry.

Optics and Metrology. Photometry and Colorimetry. Optical Instruments. Photographic

Technology. Length. Engineering Metrology.

Hoot. Temperature Physics. Thermodynamics. Cryogenic Physics. Rheology. Engine Fuels. Free Radicals Research.

Atomic and Radiation I®liysl«s. Spectroscopy. Rndiometry. Mass Spectrometry. Solid

State Physics. Electron Physics. Atomic Physics. Neutron Physics. Radiation Theory.

Radioactivity, X-rays. High Energy Radiation. Nucleonic Instrumentation. Radiological

Equipment. ‘ Chemistry. Organic Coatings. Surface Chemistry. Organic Chemistry. Analytical Chemistry.

Inorganic Chemistry. Electrodeposition. Molecular Structure and Properties of Gases. Physical

Chemistry. Thermochemistry. {Spectrochemistry. Pure Substances.

Mechanics. Sound, Mechanical Instruments. Fluid Mechanics. Engineering Mechanics. Mass

and Scale. Capacity, Density, and Fluid Meters. Combustion Controls. Organic and Fibrous MndrrinlH. Rubber. Textiles. Paper. Leather. Testing and

Specifications. Polymer Structure. Plastics. Dental Research.

Metallurgy. Thermal Metallurgy. Chemical Metallurgy. Mechanical Metallurgy. Corrosion.

Metal Physics.

MIllOB'al Products. Engineering Ceramics. Glass. Refractories, Enameled Metals. Concreting

Materials. Constitution and Microstructure.

nulldlug Technology. Structural Engineering. Fire Protection. Air Conditioning, Heating,

artel Refrigeration. Floor, Roof, and Wall Coverings. Codes and Safety Standards. Heal Transfer.

Applied Mathematics. Numerical Analysis. Computation. Statistical Engineering. Mathematical Physics.

Uata Processing Systems. SEAC Engineering Group. Components and Techniques. Digital

Circuitry. Digital Systems. Anolog Systems. Application Engineering.

• Office of Basic Instrumentation. * Office of Weights and Measures. IlOpyHill, COliOHAHO

C ryogenic Ihiginccrlug. Cryogenic Equipment. Cryogenic Processes. Properties of Materials. Gas Liquefaction.

fi&ndio Propagation PhyNicf«i. Upper Atmosphere Research, lonosphcri j Research. Regular Propagation Services, Sun-Earth Relationships. VHP Research. Ionospheric Communication

Systems.

llndio Propagation BCnginccr-iug. Dale Reduction Inslrumcntulion. Modulation Systems.

Navigation Systems. Radio Noise. Tropospheric Measurements. Tropospheric Analysis. Radio

Systems Application Engineering. Radio-Meteorology.

Radio Standards* High Frequency Electrical Standards. Radio Broadcast Service. High

Frequency Impedance Standards. Electronic Calibration Outer. Microwave Physios. Microwave

Circuit Standards.