Full-scale car fire tests on FRP reinforced RC columns in piloti structures

Abstract

Car fire tests were conducted on fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforced columns to evaluate the fire effects on piloti structures. The study involved a mid-size car (1,998 cc) with fuel and tire air pressure removed to reduce the risk of explosion. The objectives were to measure the heat release rate (HRR) and temperature distributions during the fire and to evaluate the fire behavior of the columns in the piloti structure. Results from the car combustion test showed a total heat release of 5,210 MJ, with a maximum temperature of 455.0 °C at 2.5m height above the car ceiling and an internal temperature of 1025.7 °C near the ignition point at the car seat. In the piloti structure fire test, consisting of four reinforced concrete (RC) columns with and without FRP reinforcement and a roof slab, the maximum temperature reached 728.5 °C under the slab. Thicker FRP reinforcement resulted in lower temperatures on the column surface. Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) software was used to validate the test results and showed accurate predicted temperatures at 3m (within 10 % error). However, discrepancies were observed at 2.5m (24 % error) and below, although the simulated fire behavior agreed well with the test results for heights of 2.0m and above.