Combining experimental and computational approaches for post-fire safety assessment of RC warehouse

Stochino, Flavio

First

;Majumder, Arnas;Kanagaraj, Balamurali;Sara, Nicola;Serra, Alessio;Mistretta, Fausto

2025-01-01

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Abstract

This paper addresses the critical need for accurate post-fire assessment of reinforced concrete warehouses, where fire- induced damage can compromise structural safety and repair strategies. Traditional visual inspection and conservative design assumptions often fail to capture the true extent of degradation, especially under realistic fire scenarios. To overcome these limitations, a combined computational fluid dynamics and finite-element framework that simulates the warehouse fire environment, estimates thermal exposure, and evaluates its impact on the structural response and residual capacity of damaged reinforced concrete elements is presented. Experimental diagnostics – including laser scanning, non-destructive testing, and material sampling – were conducted to calibrate the models and quantify dam- age. The findings highlight that the proposed methodology enables a more reliable identification of severely compro- mised components, supports targeted and cost-effective retrofitting interventions, and offers practical guidance for improving resilience in similar structures. This work advances performance-based fire engineering by demonstrating a validated and holistic assessment strategy that can inform reconstruction decisions and enhance fire safety practices in industrial buildings.