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This paper reviews a series of experimental tests programmes undertaken at BRE in the UK on the performance in fire of high strength concrete with a particular focus on mix design to assess the effects of spalling. The experiments include a series of fire tests on reinforced and unreinforced concrete columns and tunnel linings. The paper will provide information on the parameters that lead to explosive spalling of tunnel linings in a fire situation and on the measures available to mitigate this hazard.

This paper presents the results of an experimental study carried out within the National Institute for Research, Development in Constructions, Urbanism and Sustainable Territorial Development URBAN INCERC, on a system of walls made of ACC blocks, according to the standard SR EN 771-4 [8], having a density of 480 kg/m3 and standardized compressive strength of 3.5 N/mm2, using mortar type binder class M2.5 with compressive strength of 2.5 N/mm2. It was exposed to the action of standardized fire for a period of 220 minutes, after 10 days from the execution of the masonry. The results showed that, following the tests on the burned samples, extracted from the wall subject to the test, the standardized unit compressive strength decreased by 54%.

Understanding fire behaviour indicators is very important, especially taking into account their integration in the primary fire evaluation process as part of the dynamic and continuous evaluation of risks to which people are exposed to. Construction fires are always characterised by certain critical behaviour factors such as smoke, air currents, heat and flames. Classical training methods for firefighters are practical exercises that are expensive and risky. The aim of the present article is to briefly present a new training method consisting of a dynamic 3D system based on immersive virtual reality. This paper presents results based on the characteristics and thermal values of the flashover in a case study. The phenomenon are simulated by using the Fire Dynamics Simulator, a computer program developed on a complex mathematical apparatus that can generate multiple output data (indicators such as temperatures, gas concentrations, speeds etc.). Results are validated by experimental tests in a testing metal facility from the Police Academy “A. I. Cuza”, Bucharest. The 3D graphic results offered by the simulation highlights the conditions and parameters to which the firefighters involved in putting-out a fire, in the presented training scenario, would be exposed.