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Intumescent coatings are nowadays a dominant passive system used to protect structural materials in case of fire. Due to their reactive swelling behaviour, intumescent coatings are particularly complex materials to be modelled and predicted, which can be extremely useful especially for performance-based fire safety designs. In addition, many parameters influence their performance, and this challenges the definition and quantification of their material properties. Several approaches and models of various complexities are proposed in the literature, and they are reviewed and analysed in a critical literature review.

Analytical, finite-difference and finite-element methods for modelling intumescent coatings are compared, followed by the definition and quantification of the main physical, thermal, and optical properties of intumescent coatings: swelled thickness, thermal conductivity and resistance, density, specific heat capacity, and emissivity/absorptivity.

The study highlights the scarce consideration of key influencing factors on the material properties, and the tendency to simplify the problem into effective thermo-physical properties, such as effective thermal conductivity. As a conclusion, the literature review underlines the lack of homogenisation of modelling approaches and material properties, as well as the need for a universal modelling method that can generally simulate the performance of intumescent coatings, combine the large amount of published experimental data, and reliably produce fire-safe performance-based designs.

Due to their limited applicability, high complexity and little comparability, the presented literature review does not focus on analysing and comparing different multi-component models, constituted of many model-specific input parameters. On the contrary, the presented literature review compares various approaches, models and thermo-physical properties which primarily focusses on solving the heat transfer problem through swelling intumescent systems.

The presented literature review analyses and discusses the various modelling approaches to describe and predict the behaviour of swelling intumescent coatings as fire protection for structural materials. Due to the vast variety of available commercial products and potential testing conditions, these data are rarely compared and combined to achieve an overall understanding on the response of intumescent coatings as fire protection measure. The study highlights the lack of information and homogenisation of various modelling approaches, and it underlines the research needs about several aspects related to the intumescent coating behaviour modelling, also providing some useful suggestions for future studies.

This study was aimed at clarifying the post-fire shear strength of self-drilling screws and the load-bearing capacity of single overlapped screwed connections using steel sheets and self-drilling screws. The self-drilling screws for shear tests were made of high-strength, martensitic-stainless and austenitic stainless-steel bars.

Shear loading tests were conducted on self-drilling screws to obtain basic information on post-fire shear strength. Tensile tests were conducted on the screwed connections to examine the transition of failure modes depending on the test temperature after experiencing the heating and cooling procedures.

The post-fire shear strengths and reduction factors of self-drilling screws of each steel grade were quantified. Furthermore, heated temperature-dependent sheet bearing failure, net sheet failure and screw shear failure modes were observed for the screwed connections.

The transition of the failure modes of the screwed connection could be explained using the equations of the post-fire shear strength proposed in this study. The basic experimental data required to evaluate the post-fire shear strength of screws were obtained.

Even though it is widely used, reinforced concrete (RC) is susceptible to damage from various environmental factors. The hazard of a fire attack is particularly severe because it may cause the whole structure to collapse. Furthermore, repairing and strengthening existing structures with high-performance concrete (HPC) has become essential from both technical and financial points of view. In particular, studying the postfire behavior of HPC with normal strength concrete substrate requires experimental and numerical investigations. Accordingly, this study aims to numerically investigate the post-fire behavior of reinforced composite RC slabs.

Consequently, in this study, a numerical analysis was carried out to ascertain the flexural behavior of simply supported RC slabs strengthened with HPC and exposed to a particularly high temperature of 600°C for 2 h. This behavior was investigated and analyzed in the presence of a number of parameters, such as HPC types (fiber-reinforced, 0.5% steel, polypropylene fibers [PPF], hybrid fibers), strengthening side (tension or compression), strengthening layer thickness, slab thickness, boundary conditions, reinforcement ratio and yield strength of reinforcement.

The results showed that traction-separation and full-bond models can achieve accuracy compared with experimental results. Also, the fiber type significantly affects the postfire performance of RC slab strengthened with HPC, where the inclusion of hybrid fiber recorded the highest ultimate load. While adding PPF to HPC showed a rapid decrease in the load-deflection curve after reaching the ultimate load.

The proposed model accurately predicted the thermomechanical behavior of RC slabs strengthened with HPC after being exposed to the fire regarding load-deflection response, crack pattern and failure mode. Moreover, the considered independent parametric variables significantly affect the composite slabs’ behavior.

This paper explores the relevant fire code requirements and outlines the development of an evaluation tool based on these codes to evaluate fire safety measures in dining properties.

Existing literature was examined to identify the combustible materials, fire causes and factors making these properties prone to fire incidents. An evaluation method, based on code regulations, for ensuring fire safety in dining properties was then developed and tested on a specific dining facility to validate its practicality.

Forty requirements, grouped into seven categories, were identified for ensuring fire safety in dining properties. The case study exposed multiple violations of fire safety, leading to corrective measures for enhancing the fire safety status of the building.

This study introduced a methodical approach for raising awareness, among property managers of dining properties, about fire incidences and their consequences. It presents an evaluation tool for assessing the compliance level with fire codes and standards.

Dining properties are facilities that offer both dine-in and take-out food services. Given the increasing number of fire incidents in dining properties worldwide, there is a substantial demand for a process to audit the adherence to fire safety codes in these properties. This study presents a systematic approach to increase public knowledge of fire events and their effects in dining properties.

The purpose of this study is to develop black pigmented ceramic stoneware bodies that integrate various aspects of material composition and color potential. Recent research has explored black pigmented calcium aluminosilicate glass (BPCG), a specialized material known for its unique properties, which holds promise for transforming the color capabilities of traditional ceramics.

In this investigation, initially composite ceramic sample (B-1) was prepared by milling process prior to sieve analysis to attain the particle size within 44 microns. Microanalysis and morphology and thermography were studied by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope and thermogravimetric analysis and found Sample-B-1 received attractive properties like firing shrinkage, porosity, bulk density and firing strength along with good pyro-plastic properties at various temperatures like 950°C, 1050°C, 1000°C and 1180°C. Furthermore, BPCG-assisted pigmented ceramic composites were synthesized with B-1 matrix. CIE lab investigation of the attributed composites (C-series) within selective soaking range of 5–20 min was performed, and the investigation found that prominent black hue appeared (L: 24.09, a*: −0.17, b*: −0.49) for C-10 containing appeared phases of Di-Co-Silicide (26%), Ni-Chromite, Stilpnomelane (rich in iron) as obtained by X-ray diffraction studies.

Ceramic material played a significant role in the realms of art and craft, as well as in technology. The artistic facet reveals concepts or ornamentation, while the craft echoes both traditional and functional appeal. Technology, on the other hand, involves the logical implementation behind the creation.

This C-10 Sample comprised the lower percentage of mullite which attributed that the BPCG homogeneously mixed in the matrix of base (B-1) and appeared as spinal staff. Therefore, BPCG was a potential candidate for ceramic metallization, and this traditional metallization processes often faced some challenges like uniformity and mixing in the ceramic composite domain practices. This study aimed to open up new avenues for artistic decoration and bridging the gap between traditional craftsmanship and modern technology. Furthermore, BPCG’s role in color assessment through shocking techniques added an exciting concept for the ceramic practitioners, designers or ceramic educators.

This review paper seeks to enhance knowledge of how pre-loading affects reinforced concrete (RC) beams under fire. It investigates key factors like deflection and load capacity to understand pre-loading's role in replicating RC beams' actual responses to fire, aiming to improve fire testing protocols and structural fire engineering design.

This review systematically aggregates data from existing literature on the fire response of RC beams, comparing scenarios with (WP) and without pre-loading (WOP). Through statistical tools like the two-tailed t-test and Mann–Whitney U-test, it assesses deflection extremes. The study further examines structural responses, including flexural and shear behavior, ultimate load capacity, post-yield behavior, stiffness degradation and failure modes. The approach concludes with a statistical forecast of ideal pre-load levels to elevate experimental precision and enhance fire safety standards.

The review concludes that pre-loading profoundly affects the fire response of RC beams, suggesting a 35%–65% structural capacity range for realistic simulations. The review also recommended the initial crack load as an alternative metric for determining the pre-loading impact. Crucially, it highlights that pre-loading not only influences the fire response but also significantly alters the overall structural behavior of the RC beams.

The review advances structural fire engineering with an in-depth analysis of pre-loading's impact on RC beams during fire exposure, establishing a validated pre-load range through thorough statistical analysis and examination of previous research. It refines experimental methodologies and structural design accuracy, ultimately bolstering fire safety protocols.

In this paper, the seismic behavior of the gusset plate moment connection (GPMC) exposed to the post-earthquake fire (PEF) is investigated.

For this purpose, for the sake of verification, first, a numerical model is built using ABAQUS software and then exposed to earthquakes and high temperatures. Afterward, the effects of a series of parameters, such as gusset plate thickness, gap width, steel grade, vertical load value and presence of the stiffeners, are evaluated on the behavior of the connection in the PEF conditions.

Based on the results obtained from the parametric study, all parameters effectively played a role against the seismic loads, although, when exposed to fire, it was found that the vertical load value and presence of the stiffener revealed a great contribution and the other parameters could not significantly affect the connection performance. Finally, to develop the modeling and further study the performance of the connection, the 4 and 8-story frames are subjected to 11 accelerograms and 3 different fire scenarios. The findings demonstrate that high temperatures impose rotations on the structure, such that the story drifts were changed compared to the post-earthquake drift values.

The obtained results can be used by engineers to design the GPMC for the combined action of earthquake and fire.

Based on the known positive effects of conventional hot-dip galvanizing under fire exposure and indicative results on zinc–aluminum coatings from smallscale tests, a series of tests were conducted on zinc-5% aluminum galvanized test specimens under fire loads to verify the previous positive findings under largescale boundary conditions.

The emissivity of zinc-5% aluminum galvanized surfaces applied to steel specimens was determined experimentally under real fire loads and laboratory thermal loads in accordance with the normative specifications of the standard fire curve. Both large and smallscale specimens were used in this study. The steel grade and surface conditions of the specimens were varied for both test scenarios.

Largescale tests on specimens with typical steel construction dimensions under fire loads showed that the surface emissivity of zinc-5% aluminum galvanized steel was significantly lower than that of the conventionally galvanized steel. Only minor influences from the weathering of the specimens and steel chemistry were observed. These results agree well with those obtained from smallscale tests. The design values of zinc-5% aluminum melt (Zn5Al) required for the structural fire design were proposed based on the obtained results.

The novel tests presented in this study are the first ones to study the behavior of zinc-5% aluminum galvanized largescale steel construction components under the influence of real fire exposure and their positive effect on the emissivity of steel components galvanized by this method. The results provide valuable insights and information on the behavior in the case of fire and the associated savings potential for steel construction.

This study investigates the impact of the fire decay phase on structural damage using the sectional analysis method. The primary objective of this work is to forecast the non-dimensional capacity parameters for the axial and flexural load-carrying capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) sections for heating and the subsequent post-heating phase (decay phase) of the fire.

The sectional analysis method is used to determine the moment and axial capacities. The findings of sectional analysis and heat transfer for the heating stage are initially validated, and the analysis subsequently proceeds to determine the load capacity during the fire’s heating and decay phases by appropriately incorporating non-dimensional sectional and material parameters. The numerical analysis includes four fire curves with different cooling rates and steel percentages.

The study’s findings indicate that the rate at which the cooling process occurs after undergoing heating substantially impacts the axial and flexural capacity. The maximum degradation in axial and flexural capacity occurred in the range of 15–20% for cooling rates of 3 °C/min and 5 °C/min as compared to the capacity obtained at 120 min of heating for all steel percentages. As the fire cooling rate reduced to 1 °C/min, the highest deterioration in axial and flexural capacity reached 48–50% and 42–46%, respectively, in the post-heating stage.

The established non-dimensional parameters for axial and flexural capacity are limited to the analysed section in the study owing to the thermal profile, however, this can be modified depending on the section geometry and fire scenario.

The study primarily focusses on the degradation of axial and flexural capacity at various time intervals during the entire fire exposure, including heating and cooling. The findings obtained showed that following the completion of the fire’s heating phase, the structural capacity continued to decrease over the subsequent post-heating period. It is recommended that structural members' fire resistance designs encompass both the heating and cooling phases of a fire. Since the capacity degradation varies with fire duration, the conventional method is inadequate to design the load capacity for appropriate fire safety. Therefore, it is essential to adopt a performance-based approach while designing structural elements' capacity for the desired fire resistance rating. The proposed technique of using non-dimensional parameters will effectively support predicting the load capacity for required fire resistance.

The fire-resistant requirements for reinforced concrete structures are generally established based on standard fire exposure conditions, which account for the fire growth phase. However, it is important to note that concrete structures can experience internal damage over time during the decay phase of fires, which can be quantitatively determined using the proposed non-dimensional parameter approach.

At this moment, there is substantial anxiety surrounding the fire safety of huge reinforced concrete (RC) constructions. The limitations enforced by test facilities, technology, and high costs have significantly limited both full-scale and scaled-down structural fire experiments. The behavior of an individual structural component can have an impact on the entire structural system when it is connected to it. This paper addresses the development and testing of a self-straining preloading setup that is used to perform thermomechanical action in RC beams and slabs.

Thermomechanical action is a combination of both structural loads and a high-temperature effect. Buildings undergo thermomechanical action when it is exposed to fire. RC beams and slabs are one of the predominant structural members. The conventional method of testing the beams and slabs under high temperatures will be performed by heating the specimens separately under the desired temperature, and then mechanical loading will be performed. This gives the residual strength of the beams and slabs under high temperatures. This method does not show the real-time behavior of the element under fire. In real-time, a fire occurs simultaneously when the structure is subjected to desired loads and this condition is called thermomechanical action. To satisfy this condition, a unique self-training test setup was prepared. The setup is based on the concept of a prestressing condition where the load is applied through the bolts.

To validate the test setup, two RC beams and slabs were used. The test setup was tested in service load range and a temperature of 300 °C. One of the beams and slabs was tested conventionally with four-point bending and point loading on the slab, and another beam and slab were tested using the preloading setup. The results indicate the successful operation of the developed self-strain preloading setup under thermomechanical action.

Gaining insight into the unpredictable reaction of structural systems to fire is crucial for designing resilient structures that can withstand disasters. However, comprehending the instantaneous behavior might be a daunting undertaking as it necessitates extensive testing resources. Therefore, a thorough quantitative and qualitative numerical analysis could effectively evaluate the significance of this research.

The study was performed to validate the thermomechanical load setup for beams and slabs on a single-bay single-storey RC frame with and without slab under various fire possible scenarios. The thermomechanical load setup for RC members is found to be scarce.