Flexural Behavior (Load-Strain Curve) of Reinforced Concrete Beams Covered by Gypsum Layers and Exposed to Elevated Temperatures

Abstract

The paper presents the results of exposure of normal concrete to elevated temperatures (400 and 700) °C covered by layers (gypsum and plaster) with different thicknesses (10 and 20) mm. Through the figures shown in the paper, which were obtained from the experimental side of the research, the load-strain curves improved when the gypsum thickness increased during the specimens' exposure to fire. Where the relationship between them at a temperature of 400°C in a thickness of 20 mm was better than 10 mm when exposed to fire, so by increasing the thickness of the gypsum, the occurrence of strain is less because it protects the surface of the concrete from direct exposure to heat and thus prevents the occurrence of cracks in the outer surface of the concrete.