Experimental investigation and analytical modeling of the crack width effect on the fire performance of carbon textile-reinforced concrete composite

Abstract

In comparison with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite, the textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) presents stability in mechanical performance at elevated temperatures thanks to a thermal protection layer by the cementitious matrix. This paper presents the experimental characterization and analytical modeling for fire performance of carbon TRC under the thermomechanical regime at constant tensile force. The carbon TRC is manufactured from the cementitious matrix with good thermal properties (refractory matrix) and the reinforcement of carbon textiles. In the experiment, the ultimate strength of the carbon TRC specimen was firstly identified from the direct tensile tests at ambient temperature. Afterwards, in the thermomechanical regime, the fire performance of carbon TRC specimens according to 5 loading levels ranging from 10% to 75% related to its ultimate strength was determined. As a result, the effect of crack appearance on this thermomechanical performance was highlighted and analyzed. For the analytical modeling, a model was calibrated with the experimental results to predict the fire performance of carbon TRC by taking into account the effect of crack width.