Title: A rational approach for fire-resistance evaluation of double-tee, prestressed concrete slabs in parking structures
Date Published: March - April 2020
Volume: 65
Issue: 2
Page Numbers: 20 - 41
Authors: Puneet Kumar and Venkatesh K. R. Kodur
https://doi.org/10.15554/pcij65.2-01

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Abstract

A rational approach for evaluating the fire resistance of double-tee, prestressed concrete slabs in parking structures is proposed in this paper. The approach is implemented through a finite element analysis (FEA) numerical model to evaluate the fire resistance of double-tee slabs under varying fire and loading scenarios that could occur in a parking structure. The FEA model accounts for varying fire characteristics, member geometry, loading and support conditions, temperature-dependent material properties, and realistic failure limit states to evaluate the fire resistance of double-tee slabs. The numerical model is validated by comparing thermal and structural response parameters with measured values from documented fire tests. Furthermore, the model is applied to case studies aimed at quantifying the fire performance of typical double-tee slabs under different vehicle fire exposures in parking structures. Results from these numerical studies clearly indicate that fire-resistance predictions for double-tee slabs under current prescriptive approaches for evaluating fire resistance are overly conservative. Application of the rational approach yields higher fire resistance for double-tee slabs under realistic fire and loading conditions.