Study on the residual performance of RC beams exposed to processed temperatures and fire
Journal of Structural Fire Engineering
ISSN: 2040-2317
Article publication date: 7 December 2021
Issue publication date: 9 August 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The Reinforced Concrete(RC) elements are known to perform well during exposure to elevated temperatures. Hence, RC elements are widely used to resist the extreme heat developing from accidental fires and other industrial processes. In both of the scenarios, the RC element is exposed to elevated temperatures. However, the primary differences between the fire and processed temperatures are the rate of temperature increase, mode of exposure and exposure durations. In order to determine the effect of two heating modalities, RC beams were exposed to processed temperatures with slow heating rates and fire with fast heating rates.
Design/methodology/approach
In the present study, RC beam specimens were exposed to 200 °C, to 800 °C temperature at 200 °C intervals for 2 h' duration by adopting two heating modes; Fire and processed temperatures. An electrical furnace with low-temperature increment and a fire furnace with standard time-temperature increment is adapted to expose the RC elements to elevated temperatures.
Findings
It is observed from test results that, the reduction in load-carrying capacity, first crack load, and thermal crack widths of RC beams exposed to 200 °C, and 600 °C temperature at fire is significantly high from the RC beams exposed to the processed temperature having the same maximum temperature. As the exposure temperature increases to 800 °C, the performance of RC beams at all heating modes becomes approximately equal.
Originality/value
In this work, residual performance, and failure modes of RC beams exposed to elevated temperatures were achieved through two different heating modes are presented.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank The National Institute of Engineering for supporting this research and to fabricate a fire furnace at the Building Fire Research Centre, Mysuru. Also, the author is grateful to the reviewers for offering a number of constructive comments and suggestions that have enhanced the quality of the research paper.
Citation
Vijaya Kumar, S. and Suresh, N. (2022), "Study on the residual performance of RC beams exposed to processed temperatures and fire", Journal of Structural Fire Engineering, Vol. 13 No. 3, pp. 269-292. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSFE-08-2021-0051
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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