The experimental behavior of CFRP-strengthened reinforced concrete slabs with fire protection systems subjected to standard fire exposure
International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment
ISSN: 1759-5908
Article publication date: 12 June 2017
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to evaluate fire resistance of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP)-strengthened concrete slabs in two forms of unprotected and protected against fire.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve the objective, an unstrengthened and two CFRP-strengthened concrete slabs were first subjected to increasing gravity loading until failure. Subsequently, the unstrengthened concrete slab was placed on a furnace and was subjected to a constant service gravity load and then, the temperature of the furnace was increased according to a standard temperature–time curve until the failure of the slab occurred. This slab was strengthened by CFRP with two different amounts and then, in two cases of unprotected and protected against fire, was tested in accordance with the aforementioned method.
Findings
The gravity test results revealed that CFRP strips bonded to concrete slabs increased the load-bearing capacity considerably. So, this method can be suitable for flexural strengthening of concrete slabs. The fire test results showed that because of more load-bearing capacity and subsequently increase in service gravity load, the strengthened concrete slab failed in a short time due to the lack of CFRP resistance against fire. By contrast, the protected specimens resisted the fire in a considerable time. In addition, it was revealed that details of fire protective coating had an important effect on fire resistance duration.
Originality/value
It is notable that in the literature, there is a lack of data on the fire endurance of fiber-reinforced polymer-strengthened concrete slabs alone without any fire protection system. Furthermore, the applicability and effectiveness of a new kind of spray mineral fire protective coatings was evaluated.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to appreciate Composite Sazeh Moghavem Company for supplying the needed FRP materials and their implementation. In this regard, the authors would also like to appreciate valuable cooperation of Dr Sarafraz and staff of the Fire Department of BHRC: Mr Koosha, Mr Jamali Ashtiani, Mrs Doroodiani and Mrs Askari Moghadam. This paper forms part of a special section “Selected papers from CIB World Building Congress 2016”.
Citation
Bakhtiyari, S., Kalali, A., Taghi Akbari, L. and Farahbod, F. (2017), "The experimental behavior of CFRP-strengthened reinforced concrete slabs with fire protection systems subjected to standard fire exposure", International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, Vol. 8 No. 3, pp. 238-250. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-07-2016-0029
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited