Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
on Concrete
Evaluation and repair
BY NARENDRA GOSAIN
Tensile coupons taken from the reinforcing bars indicated that their
In 1996, a floor area measuring about 23 x 28 ft (7 x 8.5 m) on strength was compromised. A repair method was developed to
the fourth level of a Houston, TX, stadium was subjected to an rebond the slab to the joist web by means of vertical dowels hooked
arson fire. As shown in this photo, the fire caused severe into slots cut in the existing slab. The load-carrying capacity of the
spalling of the concrete joists, separation of the slab from the joists was restored by encasing new longitudinal reinforcing bars
joist web, and widespread cracking and stirrups around the damaged webs with shotcrete applied after
abrasive blasting to roughen the surface and remove soot
Damage was also evident on the level above the fire. This photo The heat from the fire was very intense and hot enough to singe
shows typical delamination and spalling found on the upper level some stadium seating on the level above the fire
structural element to be repaired. Because epoxies are used 6. Yüzer, N.; Aköz, F.; and Öztürk, L.D., “Compressive Strength—
to provide adhesion to the substrate of these composite Color Change Relation in Mortars at High Temperature,” Cement and
materials, additional fireproofing materials must be installed Concrete Research, V. 34, No. 10, Oct. 2004, pp. 1803-1807.
to protect the repair materials. This repair approach doesn’t 7. Tovey, A.K., “Assessment and Repair of Fire-Damage Concrete
generate much noise after the surface has been prepared. In Structures—an Update,” Evaluation and Repair of Fire Damage to
spite of the cost, this option becomes viable when the facility Concrete, SP-92, T.Z. Harmathy, ed., American Concrete Institute,
must remain open 24 hours a day and when noise is an issue. Farmington Hills, MI, 1986, pp. 47-62.
8. Erlin, B.; Hime, W.G.; and Kuenning, W.H. “Fire Damage to Concrete
QUALIFICATIONS Structures,” Concrete Construction, V. 17, No. 4, Apr. 1972, 6 pp.
Concrete structures exposed to fire generally do 9. Muenow, R.A., and Abrams, M.S., “Nondestructive Testing Methods
experience some form of distress. To ensure that the for Evaluating Damage and Repair of Concrete Exposed to Fire,”
structure is properly restored to its original sound condition, Evaluation and Repair of Fire Damage to Concrete, SP-92, T.Z. Harmathy,
the final step before any repairs can begin is the selection of ed., American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, 1986, pp. 63-86.
a qualified repair contractor specializing in the chosen 10. DiMaio, A.; Giaccio, G.; and Zerbino, R., “Non-Destructive Tests
technique. During construction, the work should be closely for the Evaluation of Concrete Exposed to High Temperatures,”
monitored by a qualified independent testing laboratory. Cement Concrete and Aggregates, V. 24, No. 2, Dec. 2002, 10 pp.
11. Lin, W.; Lin., T.D.; and Powers-Couche, L.J., “Microstructures of
Acknowledgments Fire-Damaged Concrete,” ACI Materials Journal, V. 93, No. 3, May-June
Jonathan Livingston, formerly with the Structural Diagnostics 1996, pp. 199-205.
Group of Walter P. Moore, assisted in researching the information and
putting this article together. His assistance is greatly appreciated. Selected for reader interest by the editors.
References
1. Abrams, M.S., “Compressive Strength of Concrete at Temperatures
to 1600 F,” Temperature and Concrete, SP-25, American Concrete
Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, 1971, pp. 33-58. ACI member Narendra Gosain is Senior
2. Neville, A.M., Properties of Concrete, 4th Edition, Pearson Principal and Executive Director of the
Education Limited, 1995, 844 pp. Structural Diagnostics Engineering
3. Edwards, W.T., and Gamble, W.L., “Strength of Grade 60 Services Group at Walter P. Moore. He
Reinforcing Bars After Exposure to Fire Temperatures,” Concrete received a master’s degree in earthquake
International, V. 8, No. 10, Oct. 1986, pp. 17-19. engineering from the University of
4. National Codes and Standards Council of the Concrete and Roorkee, India, and a PhD from Rice
Masonry Industries, “Assessing the Condition and Repair Alternatives University, Houston, TX. During his 33-year
of Fire-Exposed Concrete and Masonry Members,” Fire Protection career with Walter P. Moore, he has
Planning Report, Aug. 1994, 14 pp. designed many significant structures. For the past 10 years, his
5. Chiang, C.-H., and Tsai, C.-L., “Time-Temperature Analysis of focus has been on forensic engineering, failure analysis, and
Bond Strength of a Rebar after Fire Exposure,” Cement and Concrete restoration and rehabilitation work. He is a member of the
Research, V. 33, No. 10, Oct. 2003, pp. 1651-1654. International Concrete Repair Institute.