Assessing Post-Fire Damage in Concrete Structures: A Comprehensive Review

Bridge fires present unique challenges due to their potential for catastrophic structural failures, leading to extensive traffic disruptions, economic losses, and, in some cases, loss of life. In the aftermath of a fire incident, assessing the structural integrity and future viability of concrete bridges has become a paramount concern for civil engineers and safety inspectors. The critical decision to rehabilitate or demolish a fire-damaged structure hinges on accurately assessing the extent of damage incurred. Enhancing the fire resilience of concrete structures is a critical endeavor within civil engineering, necessitating accurate evaluation methods to analyze conditions after fire exposure. Focusing on concrete bridges, this study aimed to establish a comprehensive review of research on the effects of fire, providing engineers with the necessary means to develop guidelines for post-fire assessment to enhance safety and operational readiness. It proposes an in-depth examination of various methods as strategic decision-making tools. The assessment involves estimating the temperature, the extent of damage to concrete, and the reduction in the strength of both concrete and reinforcement. To achieve this, a detailed review of the existing literature on the impact of fire on concrete and its steel reinforcements is conducted. Current post-fire assessment tools have also been evaluated to improve the efficiency of the evaluation process. This study establishes a systematic post-fire assessment review framework that incorporates assessment information domains (including non-destructive testing, destructive testing, advanced computational modeling, and digital-twin technology) to provide a practical solution for accurately determining the safety and operational readiness of fire-damaged concrete bridges.