In recent years, fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) materials have demonstrated enormous
potential as materials for repairing and retrofitting concrete bridges that have deteriorated from factors such as electro-chemical corrosion and increased load requirements. However, concerns associated with fire remain an obstacle to applications of FRP materials in buildings and parking
garages due to FRP’s sensitivity to high temperatures as compared with other structural materials
and to limited knowledge on their thermal and mechanical behaviour in fire. This thesis presents
results from an ongoing study on the fire performance of FRP materials, fire insulation materials
and systems, and FRP wrapped reinforced concrete columns. The overall goal of the study is to
understand the fire behaviour of FRP materials and FRP strengthened concrete columns and
ultimately, provide rational fire safety design recommendations and guidelines for FRP
strengthened concrete columns.
A combined experimental and numerical investigation was conducted to achieve the
goals of this research study. The experimental work consisted of both small-scale FRP material
testing at elevated temperatures and full-scale fire tests on FRP strengthened columns. A
numerical model was developed to simulate the behaviour of unwrapped reinforced concrete and
FRP strengthened reinforced concrete square or rectangular columns in fire. After validating the
numerical model against test data available in literature, it was determined that the numerical
model can be used to analyze the behaviour of concrete axial compressive members in fire.
Results from this study also demonstrated that although FRP materials experience considerable
loss of their mechanical and bond properties at temperatures somewhat below the glass transition
temperature of the resin matrix, externally-bonded FRP can be used in strengthening concrete
structural members in buildings, if appropriate supplemental fire protection system is provided
over the FRP strengthening system. / Thesis (Ph.D, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-12-17 14:11:27.931
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:OKQ.1974/5360 |
| Date | 17 December 2009 |
| Creators | CHOWDHURY, ERSHAD |
| Contributors | Queen's University (Kingston, Ont.). Theses (Queen's University (Kingston, Ont.)) |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 3571701 bytes, application/pdf |
| Rights | This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner. |
| Relation | Canadian theses |
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