The behavior of reinforced concrete columns exposure to
eccentric loads at high temperature
Faaiza Al-Naqeeb1,*, and Haitham Al-Thairy2
1MSc student at Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of
Al-Qadisyah, Iraq
2 Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq.
* Corresponding author: wlamkhls@gmail.com
Abstract. This paper aims to investigate the influence of high temperature on the reinforced
concrete columns’ behavior and load-carrying capacity when subjected to eccentric loads.
Experimental tests were conducted on four RC column specimens reinforced by steel bars and
subjected to four levels of temperatures: 20 ºC, 400 ºC, 500 ºC, and 650 ºC. One of these
specimens was exposed to ambient temperature and considered as the control specimen. After
exposure to elevated temperature, all columns were axially loaded by compression force using
an eccentricity ratio (e/h) equal to 0.5. The experimental test findings demonstrated a
remarkable decrease in the RC column’s ultimate carrying capacity when subjected to elevated
temperature. The columns’ ultimate load capacity decreases by about 14.286 %, 28.571 %, and
42.857 % at elevated temperature magnitude of 400 ºC, 500 ºC, and 650 ºC respectively,
compared with the control column at ambient temperature. Also, an increase in fire temperature
resulted in a reduction in the load capacity with an increase in lateral and axial deflection of
tested columns.
Keywords: Eccentricity, RC column, temperature, normal weight concrete, ultimate
strength.