Modelling high temperature effects on bridge slabs reinforced with GFRP rebars

The paper presents a methodology to assess the dangerousness of the event of bushfire on bridge decks reinforced with GFRP rebars in terms of reduction of their efficiency. This goal is pursued with analytical and FEM simulations made on a strip representative of the bridge slab behavior both in terms of deformation and failure mode. The accuracy of the predictions is assessed by means of comparisons with some experimental results available in literature. The analytical and numerical results show accurate estimations of the cracking load and deflection up to the ultimate load for both room and elevated temperature simulations.