Citation

Naser M, Hawileh R, Rasheed H. J. Struct. Fire Eng. 2014; 5(1): 1-24.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing)

DOI

10.1260/2040-2317.5.1.1

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical study that investigates the performance of reinforced concrete (RC) T-beams externally strengthened with carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) plates when subjected to fire loading. A finite element (FE) model is developed and a coupled thermal-stress analysis was performed on a RC beam externally strengthened with a CFRP plate tested by other investigators. The spread of temperature at the CFRP-concrete interface and reinforcing steel, as well as the mid-span deflection response is compared to the measured experimental data. Overall, good agreement between the measured and predicted data is observed. The validated model was then used in an extensive parametric study to further investigate the effect of several parameters on the performance of CFRP externally strengthened RC beams under elevated temperatures. The variables of the parametric study include applying different fire curves and scenarios, different applied live load combinations as well as the effect of using different insulation schemes with different types and thicknesses. Several observations and conclusions were drawn from the parametric investigation. It could be concluded that successful FE modeling of this structural member when exposed to thermal and mechanical loading would provide a valid economical and efficient alternative solution to the expensive and time consuming experimental testing.

Language: en