Experimental Study of the Effect of Different Insulation Schemes on Fire Performance of FRP Strengthened Concrete: FIRECOAT and REALROCK

Abstract

The past two decades have witnessed rapid advances in the use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in different engineering fields. Advantages such as high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and tailority have led to immense interest in the use of FRPs in wide spectrum repair and strengthening of structures. Despite their many advantages, FRPs are highly sensitive to high temperatures, which pose a major concern for fire potential structures such as buildings. Applying proper thermal insulation can enhance the fire performance of FRP and reduce the possible fire damage to the FRP strengthened element. This study set out to experimentally investigate the effectiveness of two insulation systems, “FIRECOAT” and “REALROCK” on fire performance of CFRP and GFRP strengthened concrete specimens. Various configurations and exposure durations were considered to evaluate the effectiveness of insulating materials. To perform the experiments, cylindrical concrete specimens were fabricated and strengthened using CFRP or GFRP. After insulating the specimens, they were exposed to a standard fire curve for two different durations of 30 and 60 min. The results indicate that less than 30 min of fire, both insulation systems can provide the required protection. During long exposure duration of 60 min, only REALROCK can provide the required thermal resistance for FRP-strengthened concrete. Within the tested materials, Fire Set 60 outperformed other insulating materials. It was observed that implementing Fire Set 60 in the innermost layer of thermal insulations has crucial importance in preventing the fire induced reductions in strength of FRP-strengthened concrete elements.