Heat Transfer Analysis and Experiments of Reinforced Concrete Slabs Using Galerkin Finite Element Method

A research was conducted to develop a 2-D nonlinear Galerkin finite element analysis of reinforced concrete struc- tures subjected to high temperature with experiments. Algorithms for calculating the closed-form element stiffness for a triangular element with a fully populated material conductance are developed. The validity of the numerical model used in the program is established by comparing the prediction from the computer program with results from full-scale fire resistance tests. Details of fire resistance experiments carried out on reinforced concrete slabs, together with results, are presented. The results obtained from experimental test indicated in that the proposed numerical model and the implemented codes are accurate and reliable. The changes in thermal parameters are discussed from the point of view of changes of structure and chemical composition due to the high tem- perature exposure. The proposed numerical model takes into account time-varying thermal loads, convection and radiation affected heat fluctuation, and temperature-dependent material properties. Although, this study considered standard fire scenario for rein- forced concrete slabs, other time versus temperature relationship can be easily incorporated.