Implementation of image analysis on thermal shock and cavitation resistance testing of refractory concrete

This paper presents monitoring of changes during thermal shock and cavitation testing for low cement concrete that was synthesized and sintered at 1600 °C for 3 h. Water quench test was applied as an experimental method for thermal stability testing. Image analysis of the samples showed some level of deterioration at the surface and inside the samples before water quench test. During the testing, the level of samples destruction was increasing. Damages inside the samples and at the surface during the water quench test were correlated to the number of quench experiments. Models based on the damage level of both the surface and inside the bulk were proposed for calculation of the strength degradation. Cavitation damages of the samples were induced by the modified vibratory cavitation set-up. Mass loss and surface erosion were determined during the experiment. The results indicated excellent thermal shock behavior and resistance to cavitation erosion.