Modeling the behavior of reinforced concrete walls under fire, considering the impact of the span on firewalls

TL;DR

This study uses numerical modeling to analyze reinforced concrete walls' fire resistance, highlighting the influence of span, loading, and sizing, and demonstrating their effectiveness as firewalls with over 10 hours of resistance.

Contribution

The paper introduces a detailed numerical approach to evaluate fire behavior of reinforced concrete walls considering span effects, using Eurocode-compliant software for practical fire resistance assessment.

Findings

Reinforced concrete walls can act as effective firewalls with over 10 hours of resistance.

Loading, heating, and sizing significantly affect wall failure.

Numerical modeling provides a cost-effective alternative to experimental testing.

Abstract

Numerical modeling using computers is known to present several advantages compared to experimental testing. The high cost and the amount of time required to prepare and to perform a test were among the main problems on the table when the first tools for modeling structures in fire were developed. The discipline structures-in-fire modeling is still currently the subject of important research efforts around the word, those research efforts led to develop many software. In this paper, our task is oriented to the study of fire behavior and the impact of the span reinforced concrete walls with different sections belonging to a residential building braced by a system composed of porticoes and sails. Regarding the design and mechanical loading (compression forces and moments) exerted on the walls in question, we are based on the results of a study conducted at cold. We use on this subject the software Safir witch obeys to the Eurocode laws, to realize this study. It was found that loading, heating, and sizing play a capital role in the state of failed walls. Our results justify well the use of reinforced concrete walls, acting as a firewall. Their role is to limit the spread of fire from one structure to another structure nearby, since we get fire resistance reaching more than 10 hours depending on the loading considered.