Residual Bearing Capacity Research Articles

Post-Fire Stability Bearing Capacity of I-Shaped Aluminum Alloy Members Under Axial Compression

Compared to steel structures, aluminum alloy structures are more susceptible to fire damage. Accurately evaluating the residual bearing capacity of fire-damaged aluminum alloy members is crucial for effective post-disaster management. Therefore, this paper investigates the post-fire bearing capacity of I-shaped aluminum alloy members under axial compression. First, a post-fire test on 16 I-shaped aluminum alloy members under axial compression was carried out. The test results indicate that all specimens fail by the minor axis flexural buckling, and the bearing capacity of the specimens decreases with the increase of the slenderness ratio. Moreover, a trilinear relationship is found between bearing capacity and post-fire temperatures. Second, finite element (FE) models are established using ABAQUS and validated against the test results. Subsequently, numerical analysis is carried out, considering various aluminum alloy brands, post-fire temperatures, slenderness ratios, initial geometrical imperfections, and cross-section dimensions. Through the statistical regression technology and the introduction of strength and stability-bearing capacity reduction coefficients, the formulae for estimating the post-fire stability-bearing capacity of I-shaped aluminum alloy members under axial compression are derived. Finally, the proposed formulae are verified to be accurate through error analysis.

Experimental study on progressive collapse behavior of frame structures triggered by impact column removal

In the research field investigating the progressive collapse of building structures, event-dependent collapse processes have gained increasing attention in analytical and numerical studies. Different events could cause varying effects on progressive collapse resistance. The alternate load path could be related to events that could also lead to variations in load actions. However, experimental studies on reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures triggering structural column removal by the low-velocity impact have not been reported. Therefore, this paper performed an initial experimental study employing impact loading as the extreme event to investigate subsequent progressive collapse behavior of structures. Tests were conducted on six RC substructures consisting of a two-span beam and a structural column. Gravity loads were applied to the top of substructures, and a pendulum impact setup was utilized to remove RC columns by low-velocity impact. When the column underwent lateral failures, the downward force exerted by longitudinal steel bars of the column, before they fractured, pulled the two-span beam beyond the compressive arch action (CAA) stage, leading to a collapse process entirely different from their event-independent counterparts. The parametric study based on experimental results indicated that low-elevation impact and increase of column longitudinal bars detrimentally affected the performance of two-span beams resisting progressive collapse, while the increase in concrete strength partially improved the residual bearing capacity after impact column removal (ICR). Based on a dynamic model, a simplified calculation method is proposed for quantifying the downward force.

Close-in explosion performances and damage evaluation of bamboo fiber reinforced laminates

Three types of laminated bamboo plates (LBPs), namely flat-pressed one-way plate (PR), flat-pressed orthogonal plate (PC), and side-pressed one-way plate (PT), were designed and manufactured to investigate their mechanical responses under quasi-static and blast loadings. The experimental results show that the LBPs have excellent blast resistance. In-field explosion experiments clearly reveal the damage patterns of the LBPs with scaled distance changing from 2.052 m/kg1/3 to 0.054 m/kg1/3. Plates PR and PT have five damage patterns, which are slightly scorched, matrix cracking, fiber breakage, spalling and outbreak-crash, respectively. Plates PC eliminate the matrix cracking damage pattern through balancing the anisotropy by orthogonal structure. After explosion, the LBPs still maintain good elasticity, structural integrity and high residual bearing capacity. The residual bearing capacity of plates PR-1, PT-1 and PC-1 repetitively suffered seven explosions is decreased to 58.8 %, 42.6 % and 68.7 % of the average bearing capacity of the reference plates, respectively. It is concluded that orthogonal and side-pressed structures are conducive to enhance the load carrying capacity of the LBP.

Behavior of cross-shaped stiffened concrete-filled steel tubular stub columns after fire exposure

The cross-shaped stiffened concrete-filled steel tubular stub column is constructed by incorporating steel reinforcement ribs into the traditional cross-shaped design, which helps delay the buckling of the steel tube and enhances its restraining effect on the concrete. However, existing standards and research proposed design methods for estimating the post-fire bearing capacity of steel reinforced concrete stub columns are primarily applicable to the ordinary steel tubes with conventional thickness and sections. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the axial compressive properties of high-strength concrete stub columns with irregular thin-walled steel tubes after exposure to fire, which can contribute to their potential future application. Effects of various experimental parameters, such as heating time, width-thickness ratio, and longitudinal spacing of stiffeners were investigated. In total one specimen subjected to ambient temperature and eight cross-shaped stiffened concrete-filled steel tubular stub columns subjected to fire conditions were prepared for measuring temperature-time curves of specimens during ISO-834 standard fire, load-displacement curves, load-transverse, and longitudinal strain curves of specimens under axial compression loading. The failure modes of the specimens were recorded, and the influence of each parameter on the post-fire mechanical properties of the specimens was analyzed based on the experimental results. ABAQUS software was utilized to develop a model for post-fire analysis, which was validated by comparing it with experimental data. After validation, the model was used to analyze the underlying mechanism, and a comprehensive parametric study of members was conducted. Based on the results of the parametric study and the model developed for calculating bearing capacity of the cross-shaped stiffened concrete-filled steel tube stub column at ambient temperature, a simplified equation accounting for the effects of elevated temperature was proposed to predict the residual bearing capacity of the cross-shaped stiffened concrete-filled steel tube stub column after fire exposure. The average error between the simplified formula and the finite element simulation results is 0.925, and the mean square error is 0.085.

Assessment of residual bonding performance for bimetallic steel bar-seawater concrete after exposure to high temperature

The bimetallic steel bar (BSB) is a new type of corrosion-resistant reinforcement material composed of carbon steel and stainless steel, which can effectively improve the durability of structures. Reinforced concrete structural strength depends on the bond between steel bars and concrete. This mechanism can be compromised after exposure to a fire, but it has been less considered in research, and is not addressed in concrete design codes. To evaluate the residual bearing capacity of BSB reinforced concrete structures after a fire, it is necessary to clarify the bonding performance between BSBs and concrete after exposure to high temperatures. In this study, 45 BSB-seawater concrete (BSBSC) pull-out specimens were prepared, and the bonding performance of BSBSC after high temperature was studied by heating treatment and pull-out tests. The results showed that the BSBSCs changed from bluish-gray to grayish-yellow with the increase in heat treatment temperature. After exposure to 400 °C, cracks appeared on the surface of BSBSCs. As the heat treatment temperature increased, the slope of the rising and descending stages for the bond stress-strain curve decreased gradually. In addition, as the thickness of the concrete cover increased, the bonding strength of BSBSCs also improved. The higher the heat treatment temperature, the less significant the improvement effect. Based on test results, a predictive model for the bonding performance characteristics of BSBSCs after high temperature was proposed, and a constitutive model for bonding stress-slip relationship was established.

Revamp of the eco-friendly grouting materials by mixing basalt fiber for earthen sites conservation: Compressive performance and constitutive models

Reinforcement techniques, including anchorage and sealing with grout, are frequently employed to protect earthen sites and minimize the impact of fissures, the effectiveness of these approaches relies heavily on the mechanical properties of grout. To enhance the strength and ductility of the conventional grout, an eco-friendly composite grouting material mixture basalt fibers of varying lengths and contents is prepared. The DIC-based UCS tests were conducted to evaluate its compressive performance. Constitutive models of the basalt fiber-reinforced grout, including elastic perfectly-plastic (EPP) and median nonlinear (MNL) constitutive models, were established respectively based on the equal energy rule and cross-sectional data analysis for simplification application and precision evaluation purposes. The results show that the mixture of basalt fibers resulted in a distinct semi-brittle failure mode for the grout, with a significant increase in its compressive strength, ductility, compressive fracture energy, and residual bearing capacity. However, the elastic modulus will be lower when the fibers are relatively longer. Considering the differences in the relations between performance parameters and fiber content, and length, the highest compressive strength was reached at the fiber length of 6 mm and the content of 0.2 wt%, while maximum ductility was achieved at 18 mm and 0.4 wt%. The fracture energy exhibits an approximate positive correlation with fiber content. In addition, the EPP and MNL constitutive models can effectively characterize the compressive mechanical behavior of semi-brittle materials to satisfy different requirements on the precision of engineering analysis. This study contributes valuable insights into the development of high-ductility grouting materials of earthen sites, and the establishment of constitutive models for semi-brittle materials.

Full-scale loading test for shield tunnel segments: Load-bearing performance and failure patterns of lining structures

To explore the load-bearing performance and the failure patterns of the lining structures, a full-scale loading test on the three-ring staggered assembled shield tunnel segments is carried out through a hydraulic loading system. In the experimental study, the segments’ internal force, convergence deformation, and displacement, and the bolts’ internal force, are analyzed. According to the experimental results, the relationship between internal force and deformation is obtained to determine the residual bearing capacity of the shield tunnel at each stage. Three stages are specified for the evolution of the segment’s maximum bending moment during the loading process, in which, the elastic stage is the main and longest stage, in which the bending moment of the segment increases the most. There are two stages for convergence deformation development and segment misalignment development. At the end of loading, the segment’s maximum positive and negative convergence values reach 61.22 and −57.69 mm, respectively. Besides, the maximum segment misalignment is 3.67 mm, which occurs in the direction of 90°. The segment cracks when its maximum convergence value reaches 25.03 mm. Moreover, there are signs of fracturing on the waist joint of the segment when its maximum convergence value reaches 32.73 mm. The concrete at the waist joint starts fracturing in pieces when the segment’s maximum convergence value reaches 38.93 mm, which is defined as the type of shear failure. Finally, the bearing capacity of shield tunnels during segment failure period can be evaluated by using the corresponding relationship between deformation and internal force.

Experimental research of corroded concrete beams with natural cooling after fire considering the bond deterioration

The residual bearing capacity after fire is of great significance for safety assessment and repair of building structures. To accurately evaluate the residual strength of corroded beam after natural cooling, this study investigated the residual bearing capacity of corroded beam considering the bond deterioration after fire exposure. First, the bond behavior and flexural-deformation capacity was conducted by pullout test and bending test after corrosion erosion and fire temperatures damage. The bond deterioration test shows that when the temperature rises above 200℃ and the corrosion level exceeds 4.3%, the bond strength decreases by 16.5%. At the temperature reaches 600℃ or the corrosion degree reaches 13.8%, the bond behavior damage exceeds 50%. The bending test indicates that corrosion and high temperature damage both decrease the bending bearing capacity of the beam, but the influence of high temperature damage on the residual bearing capacity is greater than that of corrosion. The bond property deterioration decreases the strain value of the tensile rebar during the bending process, and decreases the bending capacity of the beam. Finally, a bond-slip constitutive model suitable for corroded beams after fire is proposed, which is applied to the calculation of the ultimate moment of the beam. The modified value of beam bearing capacity considering bond deterioration has better collimation and higher safety margin. The bond-slip constitutive model and the modified calculation method of bending moment of beam are helpful to provide more accurate performance assessment of beam after the coupling effect of corrosion and fire damage.

Effectiveness of TRC jackets for the strengthening of concrete columns after elevated temperatures: Experimental and analytical investigation

Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) materials with high strength and excellent heat resistance might considerably enhance the performance of structures under thermal conditions. This study examined thirty concrete columns, each reinforced with varying TRC configurations, and subjected them to different high-temperature scenarios. Axial compression experiments were subsequently carried out to assess the impact of TRC on concrete's performance at elevated temperatures. Key variables in these tests included different textile layers (0–4 layers), and a temperature range extending from room temperature to 800 °C. The application of TRC was found to facilitate more gradual failure progress during compression tests. In contrast to the unconfined specimens, whose stress-strain curves exhibited a parabolic pattern, those reinforced with TRC displayed a hardening segment at temperatures up to 400 °C. The presence of TRC jackets significantly improved the compressive strength, the ultimate axial strain, and the energy dissipation, both at room temperature and after high-temperature treatments. Furthermore, this paper proposed an innovative model for estimating the residual strength of TRC-confined cylinders after being exposed to various temperatures. This model accounted for the impact of high temperature on the residual bearing capacity of unconfined cylinders, the modulus of elasticity for fibers, and the confinement effectiveness coefficient.

Fatigue performance and damage of partially prestressed concrete beam with fiber reinforcement

Ordinary concrete exhibits low strength and a propensity for cracking. Carbon fibers and aramid fibers, as materials characterized by high strength, high toughness, and excellent fatigue resistance, can effectively limit the propagation of micro-cracks and enhance the strength of concrete. To explore the influence of different fiber types on the fatigue performance of prestressed concrete beams, this study initiates from the perspective of beam components. Employing a combination of experimental research and theoretical analysis, it conducts bending and constant-amplitude fatigue tests on 12 prestressed concrete beams with various fiber types. Based on the stiffness of the beam section and residual strain, the damage evolution patterns of the tested beams were described. The results indicated that the utilization of fiber-reinforced concrete significantly improves the fatigue life and residual bearing capacity of the beam components. Specifically, the residual bearing capacities of beams reinforced with carbon fibers, aramid fibers, and hybrid fibers increased by 58.6 %, 49.5 %, and 64.9 %, respectively. The analysis revealed that residual strain is a suitable indicator for describing fatigue damage in specimens and recommends prioritizing the concrete residual strain index. These findings provided a theoretical basis for the application of fiber-reinforced concrete in practical engineering projects and lifespan assessment.

Axial compressive behavior of partially encased composite reactive powder concrete columns after high-temperature exposure

Replacing ordinary concrete in partially encased concrete (PEC) columns with high-strength and durability reactive powder concrete (RPC) significantly improves their axial capacity and suppresses local buckling of the steel section. To study the axial mechanical performance of partially encased composite reactive powder concrete (PEC-RPC) columns after exposure to high temperatures, axial compression tests of eight PEC-RPC column specimens were designed and conducted. Thermal response, failure modes, axial load-vertical displacement curves, and strain-axial strain curves of different specimens were observed considering the effects of link spacing, cross-sectional dimensions, constant temperature duration, and cooling methods. Results indicate: PEC-RPC columns exhibited whitening on the surface of RPC after high-temperature exposure, specimens with the largest link spacing experienced RPC peeling due to concentrated thermal stress, exacerbated by spraying water, which created a stress difference between the surface and the interior, resulting in RPC peeling. The deeper the thermocouple was embedded, the lower the measured temperature. Additionally, due to the significantly lower thermal conductivity of RPC compared to steel, the temperature at measurement points within the RPC is much lower than that at the steel web. The failure mode of PEC-RPC columns after axial loading was characterized by the crushing of RPC and local buckling of section steel. The larger the link spacing, the more prone it was to multi-layer buckling, and columns with larger cross-sectional sizes tended to exhibit shear failure. The characteristic value of mechanical performance showed higher sensitivity to cross-sectional dimensions, but relatively lower sensitivity to link spacing and constant temperature duration. As the cross-sectional dimensions increased from 150×150 mm to 250×250 mm, the peak load, residual bearing capacity, stiffness, and ductility increased by 72.51–164.86 %, 89.8–173.6 %, 61.85–151.47 %, and 13.72–31.46 %, respectively. Finally, based on partition constraint theory and superposition principle, a simplified method for calculating the axial mechanical performance of PEC-RPC columns after exposure to high temperatures was proposed.

Effect of alkaline rice straw fibers content and curing ages on static mechanical properties of cemented lithium mica tailings backfill

Alkaline rice straw fibers (ARSF), as a widely available and recyclable plant fiber source, can provide new insights for improving the mechanical properties of backfill and the treatment of agricultural waste resources research. Different amounts of ARSF were prepared to enhance the cemented lithium mica tailings backfill (CLMTB), and uniaxial compression strength (UCS) tests and Brazilian splitting tensile strength tests were conducted to study the influence of ARSF on the static mechanical properties of CLMTB samples. Firstly, the flowability of mortars with different ARSF content was tested, the results showed that the flowability decreased by a maximum of 5.4 %, which met the construction requirements of cement mortar in the construction process. The UCS showed an increasing trend and then reduced with the increased ARSF content, with 0.15 % being the optimal content, showing a maximum increase of 14.2 %. Under Brazilian splitting loading conditions, the tensile strength gradually increased with the increased ARSF content, with 0.60 % being the optimal content. The UCS of the CLMTB samples showed exponential growth with increased curing age. Additionally, there was a linear functional relationship between the curing age and the tensile strength of the CLMTB samples. The experimental results indicate that the ARSF improved the toughness and changed the failure mode of the CLMTB samples. In the meantime, it increased the residual bearing capacity and the peak tensile strain of the CLMTB samples.

INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CIVIL PROTECTION BY THE DESIGN OPTIMIZING: THE REVIEW

Due to today's conditions, it is necessary to reconsider the purpose of buildings and structures that use a significant number of reinforced concrete elements subjected to complex stress-strain states. The researchers are faced with the task of determining the residual bearing capacity of an element with uneven damage, which will allow choosing the most optimal option for calculating and selecting materials. A detailed analysis of the most common damages to reinforced concrete structures, including protective structures and shelters, from the effects of explosives and weapons of various types was carried out to optimize and maintain strength and durability. It is also important to study the impact of damage that causes a stress-strain state that cannot be predicted by calculation.

Flexural failure mechanism of bamboo composite plates with different construction technologies and tectonic patterns

To investigate the failure mechanism of bamboo fiber reinforced composite (BFRC) plates with different construction technologies and tectonic patterns, flexural experiments were performed. The flexural property of the parallel bamboo strand lumbers (PBSL) is better than that of the glued laminated bamboo (GLB), where the cracking load is increased by 141 % at most and the peak load is increased by 57 % at most. The orthogonal structure for the cross-laminated bamboo (CLB) improves the flexural property to a certain extent by inhibiting the initial cracking whether it is PBSL or GLB, and the peak load is increased by 9.83 % and 11.40 %, respectively. The residual bearing capacity of the PBSL is better than that of the CLB, the PBSL can basically maintain half of the ultimate bearing capacity while the damage factor of CLB is as high as 0.84 when the structure is damaged, revealing that the orthogonal layup structure results in weak interlayer interface after explosion. Orthotropic plate theory and composite failure criteria were proposed and consistently predicted the cracking load and the ultimate load. It is found that matrix fracture controls the cracking load, while fiber fracture determines the ultimate load.

Out-of-plane impact behavior and post-impact damage evaluation of GFRP bar-reinforced concrete shear walls in fire

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) have been a prospective material in engineering. However, the attenuation of FRP bar-reinforced concrete members in fire is unclear. This paper studies the impact resistance of glass fiber-reinforced polymer bar-reinforced concrete (GFRP-RC) shear walls under high temperatures. Considering the impacts of strain rate enhancement and high temperature softening on GFRP bars and concrete, a numerical model with finite elements in three dimensions was created. To verify the model, three cases were simulated and compared with the test records, including the seismic performance of FRP-RC shear walls under axial compression, the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls under high temperatures, and RC shear walls' impact response. Based on the calibrated numerical model, the displacement, impact force, reaction force, failure mode, energy distribution, internal force and the residual shear bearing capacity of GFRP-RC shear wall subjected to impact under different fire times were analyzed. The influence of fire time on the failure mechanism of GFRP-RC shear walls was studied. Taking the mid-span displacement as the damage index, the evaluation criteria for the four damage levels were determined. The findings indicate that the type of reinforcement has little effect on the shape of impact force, reaction force and displacement time history curve. The peak values of impact force and reaction force of RC walls are larger than those of GFRP-RC shear walls, while the former has smaller peak displacements and residual displacements. The damage of shear walls becomes more severe as the fire time increases, as does the displacement. Also, the impact force, reaction force, shear force and bending moment decrease gradually. The energy absorbed by shear walls is primarily dissipated by concrete, the part by GFRP bars accounting for a small proportion. The post-impact residual bearing capacity of GFRP-RC shear walls is linearly related to the mid-span displacement under impact loads, primarily influenced by high-temperature exposure.

Evaluating the load-bearing capacity of corroded cables in long-span cable-stayed bridges: A stochastic corrosion field simulation approach

In cable-stayed bridges, cables are the primary load-bearing components. The corrosion of high-strength steel wires within these cables can degrade their bearing capacity, which in turn impacts the safety and durability of long-span cable-stayed bridges. To address this concern, a three-dimensional random field model was proposed in this study to evaluate the residual bearing capacity of corroded cables. This model considers the random distribution of the strength of high-strength wires along both axial and cross-sectional directions caused by corrosion. Subsequently, a three-dimensional spatial correlation model was developed based on field test results from two stay cables in service on an actual bridge. This model represents the strength distribution of corroded high-strength steel wires within the cable. Finally, the evaluation model developed in this study was employed to assess the bearing performance of two corroded cables with different degrees of corrosion. The results were then compared with test outcomes. The results show that the proposed evaluation model can accurately estimate the bearing performance of corroded cables.

Enhancing fire resistance of glulam columns with modified laminas via resin impregnation and compression

Wood's vulnerability to combustion compromises its structural integrity during fire incidents, primarily due to a decrease in effective cross-section area. This study investigates the efficacy of impregnation Chinese fir lumbers with a 30 % concentration of borate-containing phenol–formaldehyde resin, coupled with a 30 % compression treatment, employed as exposed side laminas for glulam columns. Full-scale glulam columns underwent one-sided fire exposure to assess the impact of the modified laminas. Results reveal a significant increase in column ignition time by 55–195 s, due to the combined treatment. The charring rate of columns containing a single modified lamina in the fire-side zone decreased from 0.733 to 0.552 mm/min after 60 min of fire exposure and further reduced from 0.503 to 0.351 mm/min after 120 min fire exposure for double modified laminas. Compared to the control, glulam columns containing a single modified lamina showcased a 31 % increase in residual bearing capacity at 60 min fire exposure duration and a 62.1 % increase at 120 min with double modified laminas. ABAQUS simulation results corroborated experimental findings, highlighting substantial enhancement in fire resistance achieved due to the modified laminas in the fire-side zone.

Experimental study on axial compressive behavior of concrete-filled corrugated steel tubular columns

Concrete-filled corrugated steel tubular (CFCST) column is a novel type of steel-concrete composite column, comprising four corrugated steel plates, four square-section steel bars at the corners, and infilled concrete. The transversely placed corrugated steel plates can effectively prevent their premature local buckling, release the axial load, and provide lateral confinement effects on the infilled concrete. This paper investigated the axial compressive behavior of CFCST columns through experimental, numerical, and theoretical approaches. Experiments were conducted on 20 specimens, focusing on their axial load-resistant behavior. The specimens demonstrated excellent axial bearing capacity, ductility, and residual bearing capacity. Besides, the mechanical behavior of corrugated steel plates throughout the loading process was analyzed through the development of the horizontal and vertical strains. Furthermore, a finite element (FE) model was developed to simulate the axial compressive behavior of CFCST columns, which was validated against the experimental data. The FE model was used to analyze the compressive behavior of each part in CFCST columns, revealing that the infilled concrete and steel bars primarily bear the axial load, while the corrugated steel plates mainly provide lateral supports to the infilled concrete. Finally, a simplified method for calculating the critical width of corrugated steel plates and a formula for the axial bearing capacity of CFCST columns were proposed. It was indicated that the limiting width-to-thickness ratio of the corrugated steel plates was larger than that of the steel elements in conventional CFST columns. These formulas were demonstrated to be accurate enough and suitable for the engineering designs.

Experimental and numerical analysis on the post-fire flexural behavior of aluminum alloy gusset joints

Regarding the damage incurred by aluminum alloy latticed shells under fire loads, a crucial aspect in assessing structural integrity is examining the residual bearing capacity of aluminum alloy gusset (AAG) joints. Consequently, this paper conducted experimental and numerical analyses on the post-fire flexural behavior of AAG joints. Initially, twelve AAG joints underwent post-fire tests, revealing that the failure patterns differed between thin-plate joints (exhibiting block tearing of gusset plates) and thick-plate joints (exhibiting member buckling). Notably, the initial stiffness approximately remained constant, while a trilinear relationship emerged between the ultimate flexural bearing capacity and the maximum post-fire temperature. Subsequently, finite element (FE) analysis was carried out, and the accuracy of FE models was verified by comparing the FE results with the test results. A comprehensive parametric analysis, considering various plate thicknesses, post-fire temperatures, and aluminum alloy brands, was then conducted. Ultimately, employing statistical regression, theoretical equations were formulated to estimate both bending stiffness and bearing capacity for AAG joints after exposure to fire.

Experimental study on improving the fire performance of the concrete beams with Fe-SMA

The conventional approach to satisfying the fire resistance requirements in designing reinforced concrete (RC) structures is to ensure enough concrete cover depth for the steel reinforcements. The objective is to prevent the temperature of steel reinforcements from rising too quickly. However, excessive concrete cover depth may increase the risk of concrete spalling during a fire and lead to a larger crack width. Fire is a natural heat source that can activate the shape memory effect of iron-based shape memory alloys (Fe-SMA) to generate recovery stress. This study proposes a new active approach for improving the fire performance of RC structures based on the Fe-SMA. The main objective is to investigate the feasibility of improving the fire performance of RC structures through the recovery stress generated by Fe-SMA under fire. The fire test of nine Fe-SMA RC beams was conducted. The temperature profile in the furnace was similar to ISO834, and the maximum temperature exceeded 800 °C. The flexural behavior of the concrete beams reinforced with Fe-SMA during and after the fire was tested. The experimental results demonstrate that the Fe-SMA has great potential in improving the fire performance of RC structures. The mid-span deflection of the Fe-SMA RC beams under fire is significantly lower than the conventional RC beams. The fire resistance of Fe-SMA RC beams increases from 97 min to 133 min at load level 0.3 and from 69 min to 103 min at load level 0.5. The residual deformation of Fe-SMA RC beams reduces from 46.3 mm to 27.6 mm at load level 0.3 and from 34.7 mm to 19.8 mm at load level 0.5. In addition, after 1 h of fire exposure, the Fe-SMA can develop permanent prestress after the beam cools to room temperature, improving the mechanical properties after fire. The residual bearing capacity and residual stiffness of the Fe-SMA RC beams are 21% and 86%–121% higher than the conventional RC beams, respectively. The prestress generated by Fe-SMA after 1 h of fire exposure was estimated using the equivalent section method.