High Performance Concrete - Design Guidelines.

Abstract: In this master thesis a basis for design rules, for High Performance Concrete (HPC) under fire attack, has been assessed and preliminary design guide lines have been suggested. The report encompasses detailed discussions on mechanical as well as thermal properties of HPC. The report also gives a methodology for the development of simplified design methods. The methodology differs somewhat for beams and slabs, and for columns, where structural factors have to be taken into consideration. The calculation method presented is based on a simplification of the relative strength at elevated temperatures, derived from specimen furnace tests. The simplification consists in the employment of single isotherm strength curves (the 400 and 500 °C isotherms) for calculation of load bearingcapacity. Tests, carried out in Japan and Germany, were compared to computerised predictions of the structural behaviour of columns. The comparison gave acceptable and conservative results.