A review of the fire behaviour of pultruded GFRP structural profiles for civil engineering applications

Pultruded glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) profiles are finding increasing applications in civil engineering structures, owing to the several advantages they offer over traditional materials. However, due to the combustible nature of their polymer matrix, there are well-founded concerns about their behaviour at elevated temperature and under exposure to fire. These concerns are hindering the widespread acceptance of GFRP profiles, particularly in buildings, which need to comply with relatively strict requirements in terms of fire reaction and fire resistance behaviour. This paper presents a review about the fire performance of pultruded GFRP profiles. It first addresses the effect of elevated temperature on the thermophysical and thermomechanical properties of the pultruded GFRP material. Then the fire reaction properties of pultruded GFRP profiles and the effects of different fire protection measures on those properties are discussed. Next comes a section reviewing previous experimental and modelling studies about the fire resistance behaviour of different types of GFRP structural members. The final part of the paper provides a summary of the design guidance set out in the most relevant guidelines and codes applicable to pultruded GFRP structures. The most pertinent research needs for the various fire behaviour aspects addressed are also identified.