Experimental Study on the Mechanical Properties of Reinforced Concrete Columns after Exposure to Fire

Abstract

This paper provided three test data pertaining to the mechanical properties of reinforced concrete columns after exposure to ISO834 standard fire and three comparative test data pertaining to the mechanical properties of reinforced concrete columns at room temperature, mainly concerning the influence of fire on failure mode, distortion performance and ultimate load bearing capacity of reinforced concrete columns under axial and eccentric compression. Test results show that the failure mode of reinforced concrete columns after exposure to fire is basically same with that at room temperature. With the same concrete strength and heating condition, the bearing capacity of specimens reduces as the eccentricity increases. Strain along the section height of eccentric columns after fire basically agree with the plane section supposition while the flexural rigidity and ultimate load bearing capacity decreases obviously. The residual load bearing capacity of reinforced concrete columns after exposure to fire is only about 25% to 37% of that at room temperature.