Experimental Data on Fire-Resistance Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Structures with Example Calculations

This thesis selects concrete, steel and their relation as research subjects, mainly commentary and discusses the property changes of steel and concrete materials under and after high temperature.The differences and comparisons of reasearch methods and ways between different researchers and different papers,particularly for chinese researches and chinese papers,and partly for comparison between chinese papers methods and Euro-Amercian papers methods about Fire Resistance Behavior of Reinforced Concrete will be summarized and analyzed.The researches on fire-resistance behavior of reinforced concrete become more and more important all over the world. And I would find differences between Chinese researches results, between Chinese researches results and other countries researches results.

Fire-resistance, physical, and mechanical characterization of particleboard containing Oceanic Posidonia waste

In this work, particleboards manufactured with Oceanic Posidonia waste and bonded with cement are investigated. The particleboards are made with 3/1.5/0.5 parts of cement per part of Posidonia waste. The physical properties of bulk density, swelling, surface absorption, and dimensional changes due to relative humidity as well as the mechanical properties of modulus of elasticity, bending strength, surface soundness, perpendicular tensile strength and impact resistance are studied. In terms of the above properties, the best results were obtained for particleboards with high cement content and when the waste “leaves” are treated (crushed) before board fabrication, due to internal changes to the board structure under these conditions. Based on the results of fire tests, the particleboard is non-flammable without any fire-resistant treatment.

Fire resistance of wooden cellular slabs with rectangular perforations

This paper presents a numerical approach with finite element method in order to predict both the behaviour and the performance of the wooden slabs with rectangular perforations under fire exposure. These typical constructions have good sound absorption, thermal insulation and relevant architectonic features, they are used in many civil engineering applications. These slabs are normally installed at lower level in building constructions essentially due to an easy maintenance requisite. Depending on the installation requirement, the perforated wooden slabs could have an additional insulation material inside the cavities. The proposed numerical model could be applied to different design constructive slab solutions. For this purpose a 3D numerical simulation was conducted with particular attention to the wood thermal properties variation with temperature. The numerical results were compared with those obtained experimentally in laboratory, for two wooden slabs. The fire resistance (performance criteria related to the insulation (I) and integrity (E)) was evaluated, as well as the effect of rectangular perforations into the residual cross section of the slab. This study was conducted in accordance with European Standard EN 1365-2 and using a fire resistance furnace which complies the requirements of EN 1363-1 in the experimental test.

Can savannas become forests? A coupled analysis of nutrient stocks and fire thresholds in central Brazil

Aims: The effects of fire ensure that large areas of the seasonal tropics are maintained as savannas. The advance of forests into these areas depends on shifts in species composition and the presence of sufficient nutrients. Predicting such transitions, however, is difficult due to a poor understanding of the nutrient stocks required for different combinations of species to resist and suppress fires. Methods: We compare the amounts of nutrients required by congeneric savanna and forest trees to reach two thresholds of establishment and maintenance: that of fire resistance, after which individual trees are large enough to survive fires, and that of fire suppression, after which the collective tree canopy is dense enough to minimize understory growth, thereby arresting the spread of fire. We further calculate the arboreal and soil nutrient stocks of savannas, to determine if these are sufficient to support the expansion of forests following initial establishment. Results: Forest species require a larger nutrient supply to resist fires than savanna species, which are better able to reach a fire-resistant size under nutrient limitation. However, forest species require a lower nutrient supply to attain closed canopies and suppress fires; therefore, the ingression of forest trees into savannas facilitates the transition to forest. Savannas have sufficient N, K, and Mg, but require additional P and Ca to build high-biomass forests and allow full forest expansion following establishment. Conclusions: Tradeoffs between nutrient requirements and adaptations to fire reinforce savanna and forest as alternate stable states, explaining the long-term persistence of vegetation mosaics in the seasonal tropics. Low-fertility limits the advance of forests into savannas, but the ingression of forest species favors the formation of non-flammable states, increasing fertility and promoting forest expansion. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Cellular slabs with and without insulation submitted to fire conditions

The wooden cellular slabs are lightweight structures, easy to assemble, and with excellent architectural features, as good thermal and acoustic conditions. The wooden cellular slabs with perforations are typical and very common engineering solutions, used in the ceiling or flooring to improve the acoustic absorption of compartments, and also have a good insulation and relevant architectonic characteristics. However, the high vulnerability of wooden elements submitted to fire conditions requires the evaluation of its structural behaviour with accuracy. The main objective of this work is to present a numerical model to assess the fire resistance of wooden cellular slabs with different perforations. Also the thermal behaviour of the wooden slabs will be compared considering material insulation inside the cavities. The time-temperature history and the residual cross-section of wooden slabs were numerically measured and analysed.

Wooden cellular slabs with and without insulation submitted to fire conditions

The wooden cellular slabs are lightweight structures, easy to assemble, and with excellent architectural features, as thermal and acoustic conditions. The wooden cellular slabs with perforations are typical and very common engineering solutions, used in the ceiling or flooring plates to improve the acoustic absorption of compartments, and also have a good insulation and relevant architectonic characteristics. However, the high vulnerability of wooden elements submitted to fire conditions requires the evaluation of its structural behavior with accurately. The main objective of this work is to present a numerical model to assess the fire resistance of wooden cellular slabs with different perforations. Also the thermal behavior of the wooden slabs will be compared considering material insulation inside the cavities

Fire behaviour of tabique walls

This paper present a study on the behaviour of tabique walls, concerning its fire resistance. This work is based on the experimental analysis of real scale tabique panels. Such walls were made in pine wood with an earth-based mortar finishing. In order to assess the earth-based mortar thickness effect on the fire resistance of the wall, three specimens were tested with three different mortar thicknesses of 15 mm, 10 mm and 5 mm. The earth-based mortar was previously analysed in the laboratory. The wooden structures were constructed based on traditional tabique technique. The experimental models were tested in a fire-resistance furnace, according to the ISO 834 standard fire. Temperatures were recorded using two data acquisition systems (spot measuring and field measuring). Fire resistance of test elements is expressed as the time during which the appropriate criteria have been satisfied so that one can predict the time before collapse, increasing both people and property safety. The obtained results are of great importance as they allow to improve the knowledge on tabique walls behaviour subjected to fire conditions. Two performance criteria were verified: the integrity criteria and the insulation criteria.

Parametric study of the behaviour of reinforced concrete columns in fire

The research is concerned with the application of the computer simulation technique to study the performance of reinforced concrete columns in a fire environment. The effect of three different concrete constitutive models incorporated in the computer simulation on the structural response of reinforced concrete columns exposed to fire is investigated. The material models differed mainly in respect to the formulation of the mechanical properties of concrete. The results from the simulation have clearly illustrated that a more realistic response of a reinforced concrete column exposed to fire is given by a constitutive model with transient creep or appropriate strain effect The assessment of the relative effect of the three concrete material models is considered from the analysis by adopting the approach of a parametric study, carried out using the results from a series of analyses on columns heated on three sides which produce substantial thermal gradients. Three different loading conditions were used on the column; axial loading and eccentric loading both to induce moments in the same sense and opposite sense to those induced by the thermal gradient. An axially loaded column heated on four sides was also considered. The computer modelling technique adopted separated the thermal and structural responses into two distinct computer programs. A finite element heat transfer analysis was used to determine the thermal response of the reinforced concrete columns when exposed to the ISO 834 furnace environment. The temperature distribution histories obtained were then used in conjunction with a structural response program. The effect of the occurrence of spalling on the structural behaviour of reinforced concrete column is also investigated. There is general recognition of the potential problems of spalling but no real investigation into what effect spalling has on the fire resistance of reinforced concrete members. In an attempt to address the situation, a method has been developed to model concrete columns exposed to fire which incorporates the effect of spalling. A total of 224 computer simulations were undertaken by varying the amounts of concrete lost during a specified period of exposure to fire. An array of six percentages of spalling were chosen for one range of simulation while a two stage progressive spalling regime was used for a second range. The quantification of the reduction in fire resistance of the columns against the amount of spalling, heating and loading patterns, and the time at which the concrete spalls appears to indicate that it is the amount of spalling which is the most significant variable in the reduction of fire resistance.

Numerical analysis of wooden slabs with perforations under fire conditions

Wood is considered an ideal solution for floors and roofs building construction, due the mechanical and thermal properties, associated with acoustic conditions. These constructions have good sound absorption, heat insulation and relevant architectonic characteristics. They are used in many civil applications: concert and conference halls, auditoriums, ceilings, walls… However, the high vulnerability of wooden elements submitted to fire conditions requires the evaluation of its structural behaviour with accuracy. The main objective of this work is to present a numerical model to assess the fire resistance of wooden cellular slabs with different perforations. Also the thermal behaviour of the wooden slabs will be compared considering different material insulation, with different sizes, inside the cavities. A transient thermal analysis with nonlinear material behaviour will be solved using ANSYS© program. This study allows to verify the fire resistance, the temperature evolution and the char-layer, throughout a wooden cellular slab with perforations and considering the insulation effect inside the cavities.

Fire protection durability of intumescent coatings after accelerated aging

The most common method of achieve the required fire resistance is by the use of passive fire protection systems, being intumescent coatings the fire protection material frequently used. These are usually considered thin film coatings as they are applied with a dry film thickness (DFT) between 0.3-3 [mm]. The required DFT is obtained by experimental fire resistance tests performed to assess the contribution of this reactive fire protection material to the steel member fire resistance. This tests are done after dry coating and a short time period of atmospheric conditioning, at constant temperature and humidity. As the coatings formulation is mainly made from polymeric basis compounds, it is expected that the environmental factors, such temperature, humidity and UV radiation (UVA and UVB) significantly affect the intumescent coating fire protection performance and its durability. This work presents a research study about the effects of aging on the fire protection performance of intumescent coatings. A commercial water based coating is submitted to an accelerated aging cycle, using a QUV Accelerated Weathering Tester. This tests aim to simulate 10 years of the coating natural aging. The coating durability is tested comparing the fire protection of small steel samples submitted to a radiant heat flux exposure from a cone calorimeter. In total, 28 tests were performed on intumescent coating protected steel specimens, of which 14 specimens were tested before the hydrothermal aging test and other 14 after accelerated aging. The experimental tests results of the steel temperature evolution shows that increasing the intumescent dry coating film thickness, the fire resistance time increases. After the accelerated aging cycles, the coating lose their ability to expand, resulting in an increase of the steel temperature of approximately 200 [ºC], compared to the samples without aging.

Axial buckling load of partially encased columns under fire

Partially encased columns have significant fire resistant. However, it is not possible to assess the fire resistance of such members simply by considering the temperature of the steel. The presence of concrete increases the mass and thermal inertia of the member and the variation of temperature within the cross section, in both the steel and concrete components. The annex G of EN1994-1-2 allows to calculate the load carrying capacity of partially encased columns, for a specific fire rating time, considering the balanced summation method. New formulas will be used to calculate the plastic resistance to axial compression and the effective flexural stiffness. These two parameters are used to calculate the buckling resistance. The finite element method is used to compare the results of the elastic critical load for different fire ratings of 30 and 60 minutes. The buckling resistance is also calculated by the finite element method, using an incremental and iterative procedure. This buckling resistance is also compared with the simple calculation method, evaluating the design buckling curve that best fits the results.

Utilização dos eurocódigos na construção metálica

Os Eurocódigos estruturais são um conjunto de normas técnicas que têm como objectivo abranger o projecto e verificação de qualquer tipo de construção para os países membros da União Europeia. O objectivo deste trabalho é sistematizar todos os procedimentos que estão presentes nos Eurocódigos e que são aplicáveis, de uma forma geral, à construção metálica. Foi feito o desenvolvimento de uma solução estrutural para o caso concreto de uma estrutura metálica de uma ponte rolante com o objectivo de se fazer o levantamento dos normativos estabelecidos para o projecto de estruturas metálicas. Este trabalho foi desenvolvido considerando fundamentalmente três Eurocódigos. O Eurocódigo 0 que estabelece o princípio e bases para o projecto de estruturas, o Eurocódigo 1 que define as acções em estruturas e o Eurocódigo 3 que estabelece as regras gerais, de verificação ao fogo, de projecto de ligações e de verificação à fadiga. O trabalho desenvolvido consistiu em projectar a estrutura metálica da ponte rolante considerada e para tal foram feitos os seguintes passos. - Determinação das acções na estrutura e das situações de projecto; - Projecto da estrutura considerando a verificação de cedência ou deformação excessiva dos seus elementos; - Projecto da estrutura considerando a perda de equilíbrio estático da estrutura; - Projecto da estrutura considerando a verificação da sua resistência ao fogo; - Projecto das ligações aparafusadas; - Verificação da resistência à fadiga.

A utilização da madeira na construção de edifícios: alternativas às soluções tradicionais

Esta dissertação insere-se num projecto de investigação relacionado com o papel que a madeira apresenta na construção nos tempos de hoje, necessário para obtenção do Mestrado em Engenharia Civil. A madeira apresenta, enquanto material de construção, especificidades únicas: é um material orgânico, ao contrário da pedra, do aço e do betão; é um material combustível, sem que isto implique necessariamente uma baixa resistência ao fogo; é um material tradicional, presente em pavimentos e coberturas de edifícios antigos e é, paradoxalmente, um material novo, adoptado em arrojadas obras de arquitectura contemporânea. Estas características, associadas à necessidade de garantir a sustentabilidade da construção e de conservar e reabilitar o património edificado, tornam essencial o estudo das propriedades mecânicas do material, dos seus processos de degradação química e biológica, dos meios de protecção e do comportamento de elementos estruturais ao fogo. As estruturas em madeira têm tido uma procura crescente no nosso país, revelando-se uma opção interessante, como alternativa a estruturas de aço ou de betão. No entanto, por configurarem ainda soluções estruturais, materiais e processos construtivos pouco comuns entre nós, considera-se que não estão suficientemente divulgados os instrumentos de que podemos e devemos dispor para a garantia da qualidade destas estruturas. É apresentado um estudo de viabilidade económica no âmbito do nosso país, comparando casas em madeira, modulares pré-fabricadas, com casas cuja construção é feita em alvenaria e betão armado, de forma a poder comparar os custos para ambas as soluções construtivas. Para tal, foram realizadas visitas a empresas, fábricas e a obras com o objectivo de entender como funciona o processo de fabrico de uma casa pré-fabricada em madeira.

Resistência ao fogo de alvenarias sem função estrutural

Um incêndio é algo difícil de prever, assim como a sua consequência nos elementos de construção. Dessa forma, ao longo das últimas décadas, os elementos de construção têm sido alvo de diversos estudos a fim de avaliar os seus comportamentos quando solicitados em situação de incêndio. O International Building Code (IBC) descreve um método de cálculo analítico para a determinação da resistência ao fogo dos elementos da construção de acordo com os procedimentos de teste estabelecidos na ASTM E119 (Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials). Nesta dissertação foi feita uma análise desse método, que se mostrou inadequado para estimar a resistência ao fogo das alvenarias, sem função estrutural, de blocos cerâmicos e blocos de betão, uma vez que despreza qualquer efeito do ar no interior das mesmas. No seguimento desta análise, é apresentado um desenvolvimento do método descrito tendo em conta o efeito do ar. Depois de uma análise aos vários tipos de blocos cerâmicos e de betão com diferentes dimensões e geometrias foi possível obter uma relação entre a espessura equivalente de ar existente num bloco e a sua respectiva resistência ao fogo, de modo a serem obtidos os valores descritos na normalização existente. O efeito do ar mostrou ter uma maior influência na resistência ao fogo nas alvenarias constituídas por blocos cerâmicos de furação vertical, já que a sua geometria caracterizada por um elevado número de pequenos alvéolos contribui para o aumento do isolamento térmico, e consequentemente da sua resistência ao fogo. Nas alvenarias rebocadas os valores da resistência ao fogo aumentam cerca de 50%, quando revestidos com argamassa de cimento, e 70% quando revestidos com gesso, logo, o emprego de revestimentos representam uma boa alternativa para aumentar a resistência ao fogo.

Análise experimental do comportamento ao corte de paredes reforçadas em alvenaria de BTC

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Civil