Assessment of the Influence of Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR) and Elevated Temperatures on the Fracture Mechanics of Reinforced Concrete Beams with Varying Stirrup Spacings.

Abstract

The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of thermal influences, such as heating or fires, and alkali silica reaction on the resistance of girders. We examined these influences both individually and in combination. In addition, we also studied the impact of stirrups on the resistance of the girders. Three cases were considered for the beams: typical stirrup use, higher than typical stirrup use, and lower than typical stirrup use. The role of stirrups in each case was analyzed. Our results showed a decrease of 12%, 15%, and 18% in the test results when the specimens were exposed to elevated temperatures, ASR, and a combination of both, respectively. Furthermore, we found that the amount of secondary reinforcement has a significant effect on reducing the impact of these factors. This study contributes to our understanding of the behavior of concrete under the influence of ASR and elevated temperatures, providing valuable insights for improving the design and maintenance of structures exposed to these conditions. We also developed numerical models and compared them to the experimental results, which showed similar outcomes