Prestressed hollow-core slabs performance at high temperatures- A review

Abstract

Pre-stressed concrete hollow core slabs (HCS) are now progressively used in commercial, industrial, and residential buildings due to their sustainability, affordability, and adaptability. The performance of HCS units subjected to fire is particularly difficult and is attributable to their unusual cross-section, which features voids. Numerous investigations were executed on HCS at high temperatures concerning the crucial temperature and failure mechanisms of both concrete and prestressing steel. Fire performance is influenced by a number of variables, including support condition, concrete aggregate type, slab thickness, fire insulation and cover thickness for reinforcement, spalling accessibility, void cores and size, and firing methodology. While a number of these variables have received extensive research, some have been noted as potential contributory reasons for failure, while others have received relatively little attention. This paper summarises numerous experimental, numerical, and analytical studies about the attitude of HCS vulnerable to fire in addition the building standards limitations to provide a valuable reference for future researchers.