Numerical Analysis of Wooden Beams Reinforced with Aramid Ropes Exposed to Fire

Abstract

Wood, because of its aesthetic values and favorable physical properties is a material commonly used in building engineering. While designing construction elements made of wood it is worth to focus on the fire exposure of such elements, as wood is a combustible material. In order to increase fire resistance of wooden beams it was suggested to insert aramid ropes in the lower part of the beam section. The article presents the numerical analysis of the beams made of glulam, reinforced with composite aramid ropes (AFRP) situated respectively in one and in two rows from the bottom of the beams and comparative beam which was unreinforced. In an analysis it was assumed that the beams were exposed to fire. The value of temperature of the beams while being exposed to fire was based on a fire curve ISO R834. The analysis was made on the basis of numerical models. Because of the changes in mechanical-physical properties of wood together with the increasing temperature, for the calculations there were used reduction factors included in Eurocode 5. On the basis of numerical calculations the positive influence of reinforcement of wooden beams with aramid ropes on their fire resistance was proven.