Design solution for enhancing

the fire resistance of high

strength concrete column

by
Hussein Ali hussein

Under the guidance of

DR. N.MUNIRUDRAPPA
 INTRODUCTION

 This paper discusses the performance of HSC under

fire conditions. A comparison is made of the fire
resistance performance of HSC column with that of
NSC column.
 Often, HSC columns from the main load bearing
component of a building envelope and hence, the
provision of appropriate fire safety measures for
these columns is one of the major safety
requirements in building design
 However results from a number of studies have
shown that there are well defined differences
between the properties of HSC and NSC at high
temperature.
 In this paper, based on a detailed literature review,
the fire behaviour of HSC is examined from matrial
level to structural level. A discussion on the various
factors that influence spalling and fire endurance of
 RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE
 Structural members are to be designed to satisfy the
requirements of serviceability and safety limit states for
various environment condition
 The basis for this requirement can be attributed to the
fact that, when other measures for containing the fore
fail, structural integrity is the last line of defiance. Fire
resistances is the duration during which a structural
member (system) exhibits resistance with respect to
structural integrity, stability and temperature
transmission. Typical fire resistance requirements for
specific building members are specified in building
codes. Fire resistance can play a crucial role in the
performance of buildings and built – infrastructure in
the event of fire as seen in the collapse of the WTC
twin towers and the damage to the Euro-tunnel.
 Furthermore the spalling of concrete under fire
conditions is one of the major comers due to the low
water binder ratio in HSC. The spalling of concdrete
 FIRE PERFORMANCE OF HIGH
STRENGTH CONCRETE
 Fire concerns and design complexities
 concrete (NSC) is less conductive and has high
thermal mass, and therefore attains higher
temperatures at a lower rate than steel. Hence,
concrete4 structural members can often be used
without external fire protection.
 the fire performance of HSC is significantly
different from that of NSC due to the occurrence
of spalling and faster degradation of mechanical
properties at elevated temperature.
 MATERIAL BEHAVIOUR :
 Similar to other materials the thermo – physical and
mechanical properties of concrete change substantially
within the temperature range associated with building fires.
These properties vary as a function of temperature and
depend on the composition and characteristics of concrete.
 The material properties of HSC vary differently with
temperature than those of NSC. This variation is more
pronounced for mechanical properties, which are affected
by strength, moisture content , density, heating rate
amount of silica fume and porosity.
 figure 1 shows the comparison of strength (ratio of
compressive strength at a given temperature to that at rom
temperature) as a function of temperature of NSC and HSC
 HSC has higher strength loss with increasing
temperature than NSC.
 Also HSC has higher strength loss with increasing
temperature than NSC., HSC has higher as compared
to that of NSC.
 SPALLING PROBLEM:
 This property is unique to concrete and can be a governing
factor in determining the first resistance of an RC structural
member. Spalling is define as the breaking up of layers
(pieces) of concrete from the surface of concrete members
when it is exposed to high and rapidly rising temperatures
such as those experienced in fires.
 The consequences are limited as long as the extent of
damage is msmall, but extensive spalling may lead to early
loss of stability and integrity.
 HSC is more susceptible than NSC because of its low
permeability and lower water cement ratio as compared to
NSC.

 When the vapour pressure exceeds the tensile strengthen
concrete, pieces of concrete fall off from the structural
member. The pore pressure is considered to drive
progressive failure j.e. the lower the permeability of
concrete, the greater the spalling.
 The extent of spalling depends on a number of
factors including strength, porosity, density of
concrete, load, fire intensity, aggregate type,
relatives humidity, amount of silical fume and
other admixtures.
 STRUCTRUAL BEHAVIOUR
 Typical results from fire resistance tests involving
NSC and HSC columns are shown in Figures 3
and 4
 except for the concrete strength, the NSC and
HSC columns had similar characteristics and were
subjected to comparable load levels.
 The variation of cross sectional temperatures measured
during the fire tests are shown for various depths from the
surface along the centerline and at mid height of the
column.
 (lowr porosity) of HSC The HSC column only after
approximately 3 hours of fire exposure. It can also be seen
in Figure 3 that the failure of HSC column occur wine the
temperature at central depth of the concrete core reach
350 C.
 . Both the NSC and HSC columns expand until the
reinforcement yields and then contract leading to failure.
 In the case of the HSC column, the deformation is
significantly lower than that of the NSC column. This can be
attributed parley to the lower thermal expansion of HSC
and the slower rise of temperature in the HSC column
during the initial stages due to the high compactness of
HSC (see Figure 3 for slower temperature rise in HSC
columns).
 The contraction in theHSC column is much lower.
This can be attributed to the fact that HSC
becomes brittle at elevated temperatures and the
strain attained at any stress level is lower than
that attained in NSC for any given temperature.

 The rebars in HSC columns were fully exposed to
fire during the later stages of fire. This spalling is
due to the low permeability in HSC
 For the NSC column, the fire resistance is
approximately 366 minutes while for the HSC
columns, it is approximately 225 minutes while
for the HSC column, it is approximately 225
minutes. The decreased fire resistance for the
HSC column as compared to the NSC column can
be attributed to faster degradation of thermal
and mechanical properties as well as occurrence
of spalling of HSC.
 MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS
 similar to other materials the thermophysical and
mechanical properties of concrete change
substantially within the temperature range
associated with building fires. These properties
vary as a functionf of temperatures.
 CONCRETE STRENGTH:
 The higher the strength or the associated lower
permeability, the higher will be the probability of
spalling.
 . Further I as a function of temperature. It can be
seen that the rate of loss of strength is higher
and significant for HSC over the entire tempera
rue range. In addition , the fire induced spalling
in HSC and NSC and NSC I shown in figure I as a
function of temperature. It can HSC over the
entire temperature range. In addition, the fire
induced spalling in HSC is significantly higher
than that of NSC
 SILICA FUME:

 Results from fire endurance tests on HSC

columns clearly indicate that silica fume and the
associated concrete strength has an influence on
fire endurance and spalling.
 . In the fire resistance tests, the extent of
spalling was very significant in columns with high
(about 15%) silica fume content. The higher
silical fume and associated compressive strength
increases the extent of spalling due to increased
comp activity and leads to decreased fire
endurance.
CONCRETE MOISTURE CONTENT
 The moisture content expressed in terms of
relative humidity (RH) does influence the extent
of spalling. Higher RH levels lead to grater
spalling.
 CONCRETE DENSITY :

 . The extent of spalling was found to be much

greater when lightwe eight aggregate is used.
This is mainly because the lights eight aggregate
contains more fire moisture which creates higher
vapour pressure under fire exposures.
 FIBRE REINFORCEMENT :
 The spallingis mitigated since polypropylene
fibres melt at relatively low temperature of 170 C
and create channels for the steam pressure
within the concrete to escape, thus preventing
the small ‘ explosions’ that cause spalling.
 TYPE OF AGGREGATE
 Of the two commonly used aggregates, carbonate
aggregate concrete (predominantly made from
limestone) provides higher fire resistance and
better spalling resistance than does siliceous
aggregate cpmcdrete (provides higher fire
resistance and better spalling resistance than
does siliceous aggregate concrete (predominantly
made from quartz). This is mainly because
carbonate aggreage has a substantially higher
heat capacity (specific heat), which is beneficial
in preventing spalling
 STRUCTURAL FEATURES :
 the structural behaviour of HSC column is
different column is found to be lower than that of
NSC column. This variation in behaviour can be
attributed to the fact that HSC becomes brittle at
elevated temperatures and the strain attained at
any stress levels is lower than that attained in
NSC for any given temperature.
 LOAD INTENSIY AND TYPE :
 A higher load intensity lead to lower fire
resistance since the loss of strength with a rise in
temperature is greater for HSC than NSC.
SOLUTIONS FOR ENHANCING FIRE
PERFORMANCE :
 MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS
 Silica fume
 The fire endurance of HSC columns with higher
silica fume content is lower than that of HSC
columns with lower levels of silica fume.
 appropriated spalling mitigation techniques are to
be incorporated in the design when the concrete
mix has significant amount (above e10%) of
silical fume.
 FIBRES
 Addition of polypropylene fibres, about 0.1 to
0.15% by volume, to the concrete ix reduced
spalling and enhances fire endurance of HSC
columns.
 AGGREGATE TYPE :
 Use of carbonate aggregate (lime stone for
example) instead of siliceous aggregate (quartz
for example) in concrete mix reduces spalling and
enhances fire endurance of HSC columns.
 STRUCTURAL CONSIDERATIONS
 Member size
 current provisions in amercan codes and
standards specify minimum dimensions for
achieveing fire endurance ratings in HSC
columns (both square and circular ) are.
 1 hours – 300mm (12 inches).
 1-1/2 hours – 350mm (14 inches)
 2 hours-400mm (16 inces)
 3 hours or more – 500mm (20 inches).
 CONCLUSIONS:
 There is a concern on the occurrence of
spalling and lower fire endurance of HSC
structural members as compared to NSC
members.
 The fire characteristics, concrete mix
proportions and structural design
features have an influence on the fire
performance (both spalling and fire
endurances ) of HSC columns.
 the parameters that influence fire
performance of HSC at martial level are
concrete strength, silical fume, concrete
moisture content, concrete density, fiber
reinforcement and type of aggregate.
 At the structural level, tie spacing,
confinement, ties configuration. Load
levels and size of the members play an
important role in determining fire
endurance of HSC columns.
 REFERENCES
 1. PHAN,LT,FIRE PERFORMANCE OF HIGH STRENGTH
CONCRETE,NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND
TECHNOLOGY,MARVLAND.USA
 2.DIDERICHS,U,JUMPANEN,HIGH TEMPERATURE
PROPERTIES AND SPALLING BEHAVIOUR OF HSC.
GERMANY,1995
 3. KODUR,VKR AND SULTAN,STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOUR OF
CONCRETE, CANADA .1998
 4. KODUR,V.K.R,CHENG,F.P AND WANG.EFFECT OF
STRENTH AND FIBRE REINFORCEMENT,ASCE JOURNAL OF
STRUCTURAL ENGINERING.
THANK YOU