An assessment of fire damaged concrete structure: A case study

A case study of a hardware store in Kukatpally, Hyderabad, that was damaged in a fire is included in this study. For the purpose of testing compressive strength, three concrete core samples from a damaged column, beam, and wall panel were obtained. Numerous structural alterations, including spalling, cracking, aggregate debonding, expansion, and mineralogical or chemical alterations like discolouration, dehydration, and dissociation, can occur when concrete is heated. An on-site condition assessment usually comes before data on the highest temperature reached and an evaluation of the state of a concrete structure after a thermal excursion. A thorough visual examination of the structures for indications of distress, such as cracking, spalling, deflections, distortions, misalignment, and exposed steel reinforcement, is the first stage of the on-site assessment. During a brief heat excursion, like that caused by a fire, Portland cement concretes can exhibit color changes in addition to spalling, loss of chemically mixed water, and strength loss. Concrete does not change color when heated to 300˚C; instead, it turns pinkish red between 300˚ and 600˚C, grey between 600˚ and 1000˚C, and brownish yellow when heated above 1000˚C. For a more thorough evaluation of the in-situ concrete that has been damaged by fire, a number of non-destructive techniques can be applied. The most efficient method for getting thorough information about the internal state and mechanical characteristics of concrete after a heat excursion is to remove and test concrete core samples in a laboratory.