Numerical analysis of the load capacity of reinforced concrete structures in case of fire

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Dieter Dinkler
• Subject Area: Applied Mechanics, Statics and Dynamics ; Construction Material Sciences, Chemistry, Building Physics
• Term: from 2013 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 242418550

The proof of the safety of reinforced concrete structures follows usually on basis of experimental investigations. By means of the results the fire resistance is certificated as duration of fire resistance F30 etc.Goal of the project is the development of a model, which is able to investigate numerically the development of the load carrying behavior of reinforced concrete structures under fire. The numerical analysis of the load carrying behavior of reinforced concrete structures in case of fire is very complex, because mechanics and chemical degradation of the materials have to be coupled with the transport processes of heat and water accompanied by the phase transition to vapor. Modeling of the equations leads to a multi-scale problem in space and time domain, which could be solved only by application of very advanced numerical procedures.Up to now the own models are able to describe the behavior of concrete under high temperature with a multi-physics approximation. By means of the current application of support the model will be extended by the behavior of steel and the process zone between steel and concrete. The model equations will describe the behavior in the framework of continuum damage mechanics and will be solved by the finite element method. The overall model will be able to investigate the load carrying behavior of reinforced concrete structures numerically.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants