Tensile Behaviour of Reinforcing Steels at High Strain Rate and High Temperature

Abstract

The performance of reinforced concrete structures under combined effects of blast and fire is growing in interest of the research and engineering communities specially after the recent terrorist attacks as well as severe accidents (i.e. Gotthard tunnel, etc.). The mechanical behaviour of concrete and reinforcing steel when are subjected to extreme temperatures, impacts or blast has still many aspects open to investigation. In this paper the behaviour of AISI304, B500B and B500A reinforcing steel at high strain rate (500 s-1) and at three levels of temperature (200, 400 and 600°C) is presented. The results were obtained by using a Split Hopkinson Tensile Bar (SHTB) equipped with a heating system.