Probabilistic evaluation of failure time of reinforced concrete frame in post‐earthquake fire scenario

Abstract

This paper aims at assessing the failure time of a 7‐story reinforced concrete (RC) frame in a post‐earthquake fire (PEF) event probabilistically. Cumulative distribution functions (CDF) of the studied frame's failure time in various seismic load intensities have been calculated and presented with the aid of Monte Carlo analysis. Seismic load intensity, failure time, and failure probability are three parameters that are correlated through probabilistic analysis. The effects of cracking, spalling, and residual deformations resulted from the seismic load are considered in the strength of structure against the fire load. Seismic load intensity, materials properties, gravity load, and geometry are considered as random variables and one probabilistic analysis has been carried out for each seismic load intensity. The results have illustrated that in low seismic load intensities, probabilistic values of failure time in a structure subjected to pure fire load are equal to the one exposed to PEF. With the increase of seismic load intensity, the effects of cracking, spalling, and residual deformations would lead to a decline in the strength of structural elements against PEF scenario. The failure time in 50% failure probability for Sa = 0.2 g, Sa = 1 g, and Sa = 2 g intensities has been calculated as 14,300, 12,200, and 5100 s, respectively. The analysis results have shown that in an unspecified seismic load intensity, the failure time of the 7‐story RC frame for the 50% occurrence probability is equal to 9750 s.