Fire testing of insulated RC beams strengthened with near surface mounted FRP reinforcement

Seventeen NSM FRP (Near Surface Mounted Fibre Reinforced Polymer) strengthened and insulated full-scale beams, and two unstrengthened and unprotected beams, were subjected to fire tests. Insulation material type and dimensions and the insulation configuration were examined in order to develop practical methods for protecting FRP during fire exposure. Structural testing up to failure at room temperature of the fire tested beams has been carried out in order to evaluate their residual strength after one and two hours of fire exposure. The test program included the design and fabrication of steel reinforced concrete beams with rectangular cross-section. The experimental data demonstrated that all the insulated beams obtained the fire endurance ratings of 2h and 1h by satisfying both thermal and load bearing criteria. The paper will discuss the obtained test results.

http://ift.tt/2t8wu14