Heat transfer analysis of FRP–strengthened RC columns under fire.

The use of externally bonded Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) systems is becoming more relevant due to their superior performance in many structural applications. However, fire or elevated temperature exposure is a major concern for FRP systems due to the deterioration of the epoxy adhesive. This paper investigates the fire performance of unstrengthened and Carbon FRP (CFRP) strengthened Reinforced Concrete (RC) columns with and without fireproofing insulation. Four columns were modeled using the finite element software package ABAQUS to carry out the heat transfer analysis. All four columns were exposed to fire according to the ASTM E119 standard fire curve with an exposure period of three hours. The temperature-time curves were plotted 50 mm deep into the concrete, and 100 mm deep into the concrete, and at the longitudinal reinforcement. The results showed no noticeable improvement in the fire performance of RC columns with the addition of CFRP layers, where the temperature readings were almost the same. However, the use of the fireproofing insulation significantly affected the fire performance where the temperature at different times was significantly lower for the insulated columns compared to the uninsulated columns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]