Integrated Approach for Post-fire Reinforced Concrete Structures Assessment

Abstract

In order to assess decay in the mechanical characteristics offire-exposed Reinforced Concrete (RC), it is crucial to reconstructthe temperature time history and the evolution of strainand stress fields. In this paper, the state of the art of assessmentmethods is presented and applied to a real structure damagedby fire. It is a prestressed RC industrial warehouse located inthe outskirts of the city of Cagliari (Italy). The collected data ofseveral assessment methods are presented in order to producethe flowchart of an integrated approach for post-fire investigation.Among the various techniques, the authors highlight athorough laser scanner geometric survey and destructive andnon-destructive testing. In addition, the temperature distributionand its time history has been reconstructed by means ofoptical and Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray diffractometry,Thermogravimetric Differential Thermo-Analysis andcalibrated Colorimetry.Actually, refurbishment is needed, but the structure withstoodthe fire very well. Central columns displayed the most importantdamage, and several beams presented important deflectionshaving lost the prestressing actions of the tendons.