Jordan Journal of Civil Engineering

Study on Flexural Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Beams: Response to Fire and Sudden Cooling

Authors:

P. Bhuvaneshwari; Asiq Raja; N. Athithya;

Abstract:

The objective of the present study was to retrofit RC beams under realistic fire followed by sudden cooling. Three reinforced concrete beams (100 mm x 150 mm x 1500 mm) were cast using M30 grade concrete. After the curing period, they were exposed to ISO: 834 standard fire curve. Three temperatures (300ºC, 500ºC and 900ºC) were applied and maintained for a specific duration. Then, the beams were cooled immediately. The beams were repaired for cracks and spalled concrete using a polymer mortar and then cured. The beams were wrapped using glass fiber sheets and PP fiber-based ECC binders. Cured beams were subjected to two-point loading for flexure. Results showed that strengthening improved the ductility and toughness values for rise in temperature. The ultimate load for the beams increased up to 500ºC and the stiffness value decreased for temperatures higher than 300ºC. For all strengthened beams, the composites were intact even at failure load.

Keywords:

Reinforced concrete beams, ISO:834, Sudden cooling, Retrofitting, GFPPECC, Parametric analysis.