DOI: 10.11648/j.jccee.20261103.15 ISSN: 2637-3890

Influence of Geosynthetic Reinforcement on the Thermal and Structural Performance of Reinforced Concrete Beams

Akande Adeyemi, John Wasiu, Ibrahim Olayinka, Osegbowa Enoguan
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Concrete structures are frequently exposed to elevated temperatures during fire incidents, leading to significant degradation of mechanical and durability properties. This study experimentally investigates the thermo-mechanical performance of reinforced concrete beams incorporating geosynthetic reinforcement when subjected to elevated temperature exposure. Concrete cubes and reinforced beams, with and without embedded geotextile layers, were cast and tested under ambient conditions and after thermal exposure at temperatures up to 300°C for cubes and 600°C for beams. Both destructive and non-destructive tests, including compressive strength, rebound hammer, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and flexural strength tests, were conducted to evaluate residual mechanical performance. The results indicate that geosynthetic-reinforced concrete exhibited higher compressive and flexural strength retention compared to conventional reinforced concrete after thermal exposure. At 300°C, geotextile-reinforced concrete showed a compressive strength reduction of approximately 9.6%, compared to 20.4% for plain concrete. Similarly, flexural strength loss at 600°C was reduced from about 40% in control beams to 25% in geosynthetic-reinforced beams. Increased ductility and reduced stiffness were observed at elevated temperatures due to polymer softening and microstructural changes. Overall, the findings demonstrate that geosynthetic reinforcement can enhance post-fire mechanical performance of reinforced concrete members, although its thermal limitations must be carefully considered in fire-resistant structural design.

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