BEHAVIOUR OF FIRE EXPOSED REINFORCED CONCRETE COLUMNS

Abstract

This research is devoted to investigate the behaviour and load carrying capacity of reinforcedconcrete columns exposed to fire flame. The experimental program consisted of casting and testing of 128 column specimens divided into two series A and B with target compressive strength (30 and 40 MPa) and named series A and B respectively. Each series was divided into three main groups loaded eccentrically with eccentricities 30mm and 80mm. It was found that the predicted load carrying capacity of reinforced concrete columns by three codes (ACI-318/08, BS-8110/97 and Canadian/84), was unconservative after burning. The BS Code equation was found to predict load capacity after exposure to high fire temperature levels better than other codes. Load-deflection curves indicate deleterious response to the fire exposure. Also, it was noticed that the maximum crack width increases with increasing fire temperature and amount of spacing between lateral steel ties.