Thermo-Mechanical Analysis Of RC Beam Exposed To Fire

Ever since its earliest applications, reinforced concrete has been used as the main construction material worldwide. From bridges and arch dams to tunnels and skyscrapers,it has allowed mankind to shape the face of the earth, especially because, among all the other construction materials, reinforced concrete outstands for its strength, durability and cost-effectiveness.Besides that, the application of this material enables the construction of irregular and complicated shapes, either in the form of cast-insitu or pre-cast concrete, making it the appropriate structural constituent for modern buildings, increasingly moving towards aesthetics concerns and integration with the surrounding built environment requirements.The structural stability of reinforced concrete buildings exposed to fire is gaining a significant role in the design process, as users and authorities are increasingly demanding for fire safety solutions.This research examines the behaviour of reinforced concrete beams with a rectangular cross-section exposed to fire at the bottom and sides. The study was carried out with the analysis of 3D finite elements using ABAQUS.The effect of various supporting conditions was studied when exposed to a four-hour ISO-4 fire for single-span beams with pinned and rotational restraining supports, allowing for varying levels Horizontal restraint in both cases. The results showed that the horizontal stress was beneficial for the fire resistance of the beams in both cases. The arrangement of the rotation constraint has considerably improved the behaviour of the beams relative to the supported case pinned.