Available online at www.CivileJournal.org
Civil Engineering Journal
(E-ISSN: 2476-3055; ISSN: 2676-6957)
Vol. 10, No. 01, January, 2024
189
Behavior of Fire-damaged RC Beams After Strengthening with
Various Techniques
Asser Elsheikh
1, 2*
, Hadeal H. Alzamili
1
1
Department of Civil Engineering, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), Moscow, Russian Federation.
2
Structural Engineering Department, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Received 14 September 2023; Revised 15 December 2023; Accepted 20 December 2023; Published 01 January 2024
Abstract
High temperatures during a fire can significantly degrade the structural capacity of concrete. However, in many cases, it is
possible to restore and strengthen fire-damaged concrete rather than completely rebuild damaged structures. The study
considered two types of concrete (normal 25 MPa and high-strength 65 MPa) with two types of strengthening techniques:
carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP) sheets with different thicknesses of 1.5 and 2.5 mm and slurry-infiltrated fibrous
concrete (SIFCON) jacketing with different fiber sizes of 20 and 30 mm. The numerical simulations and analyses were
conducted to capture the complex behavior of fire-damaged concrete members (beams). A fire-damaged concrete beam
subjected to an extreme or critical fire Exposure time (2 hours) was evaluated and modified using a finite element
simulation approach. The simulation process included three stages: the first, subjecting the concrete beam to thermal
loading; the second, reflecting the fire distribution map to another model of applying mechanical loading; and the third,
involving the application of strengthening to the damaged model. The results showed that the strengthening using CFRP
with a thickness of 2.5 improved the load-carrying capacity compared with SIFCON in both types of concrete. 200%
improvement for the normal-strength concrete beam and a 136% improvement for the high-strength concrete beam,
compared to the damaged beams.
Keywords: RC Beam; CFRP; SIFCON; Fire.
1. Introduction
After a fire, it is important to conduct a thorough assessment of the damaged structural organs to determine the extent
of the damage. Such an assessment may include visual inspections, non-destructive tests, and material sampling to assess
the residual strength and integrity of structural elements. In most cases, repair versus replacement is an optimal option,
as the decision on the repair or replacement of the affected structural members is made depending on the severity of the
damage. In less severe cases, such repair methods as patching, strengthening with the use of additional materials, or
applying protective coatings may be sufficient. However, if the damage is extensive, a complete replacement of the
damaged organ may be necessary [1].
High temperatures can cause profound changes in the properties of concrete, leading to a potential loss of strength,
stiffness, and durability. Understanding the post-fire behavior of concrete is essential for evaluating the residual
structural capacity and implementing effective repair and strengthening strategies. The behavior of steel reinforcement
in a fire depends on several factors, including the temperature reached, the duration of exposure, and the size and
condition of the concrete element, which can lead to deformation, loss of bond with the surrounding concrete, and even
* Corresponding author: assermfee@mans.edu.eg
http://dx.doi.org/10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-01-012
© 2024 by the authors. Licensee C.E.J, Tehran, Iran. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and
conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).