Effect of Ductile Detailing on the Performance of a Reinforced Concrete Building Frame Subjected to Earthquake and Fire

Abstract

AbstractA nonductile reinforced concrete (RC) frame was constructed and was subjected to a predefined level of damage by subjecting the frame to simulated earthquake loading. The damaged RC frame was then subjected to 1-h designed compartment fire. The RC frame was instrumented with a number of sensors that recorded strains, displacements, and temperatures during the test. The resulting data provided a distinctive record of earthquake-damaged RC structures in fire through a complete heating–cooling cycle. The experimental results were compared with the results from an earlier test done on the RC frame having ductile detailing. The results show a marked influence of reinforcement detailing on the postearthquake fire performance of the concrete structures. The simulated earthquake loading caused wider cracks and more severe concrete spalling in the frame without ductile detailing compared to the frame with ductile detailing. The fire damage was also more pronounced with extensive spalling due to the attainm...