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ORCID

https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2926-1728

Access Type

Open Access Thesis

Document Type

thesis

Degree Program

Civil Engineering

Degree Type

Master of Science in Civil Engineering (M.S.C.E.)

Year Degree Awarded

2023

Month Degree Awarded

May

Abstract

In general, tunnels are designed with an abundance of safety regarding structural integrity, however, there can be uncertainty related to structural performance after a fire event. The residual condition of a tunnel after a fire is dependent on fire intensity and duration. The goal of this study is to correlate visual and material characteristics of structural and non-structural components of tunnels with fire temperature and exposure time. This can be further related to the residual capacity of structural members in a tunnel, providing insight into safety and overall functionality. Experimental results show that the visual response of materials with heat exposure is variable and dependent on a number of factors. A wide range of materials were studied to establish a well-versed collection of data that may be used in a post-fire inspection. In addition, mechanical testing of three configurations of structural slabs exposed to different heating regimens was conducted. The influence of heat on a structural member may be complex, and was found to be minimal for the heating regimens and loading procedures applied. This work can serve as an aid for post-fire investigation by providing methods to estimate fire intensity and duration through visual observation and mechanical testing.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7275/35029391

First Advisor

Scott Civjan

Second Advisor

Simos Gerasimidis

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