Behavior and Analysis of Reinforced Self-Compacted Concrete Beam Column Connection Subjected to Fire

Abstract

The present work is concerned with the experimental and analytical study of the behaviour of reinforced concrete beam-column connections exposed to fire under loading and to evaluate the reduction in concrete strength during fire. This research is divided into two parts, the first part is the experimental program, and the second is the theoretical analysis using finite element program (ANSYS). The experimental program include one-third scale specimens have been casted from self-compacted concrete. Three specimens were exposed to 600°C for one hour, other 3 specimens exposed to 600°C for two hours and the last 3 specimens as a control not exposed to fire. The effect of some parameters on the RC connection's behaviour like reinforcement ratio, amount of stirrups on RC connection and fire duration were studied. Experimental program extended also to study heat distribution inside RC beam – column connections by measuring temperature at points distributed at sections all over connection. Cracks propagation, strain, deflection, initial crack and failure loads were recorded, analysed and discussed.