A study on the effect of sequential post-earthquake fire on the performance of reinforced concrete structures

Purpose - Post-earthquake fire (PEF) can lead to a rapid collapse of structures partially damaged by earthquake. As there is almost no established PEF provisions by codes and standards, PEF investigations are therefore needed for those buildings. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach - A non-linear PEF analysis comprises three steps, which are the application of gravity loads, earthquake loads and then fire loads. As a fire generally initiates on one floor and then spreads to other floors, applying a sequential fire is more realistic than applying a concurrent fire on several floors. Hence, in this study, the fire is applied sequentially to the floors with a time delay. Findings - The results indicate a substantial reduction in the resistance of the damaged frame when subjected to PEF. In addition, the results of applying the PEF sequentially is more realistic than the concurrent fire. Research limitations/implications - It was better to perform an experimental test to have a better understanding of the issue. Originality/value - PEF can potentially result in a catastrophe in areas located in seismic regions. Thus, investigating the effect of PEF on previously damaged structures is of importance.