Open research questions in Fire effects on concrete materials
149 gap statements mined from Fire effects on concrete materials papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 1,060 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.
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What the literature leaves open
The current post-fire assessment procedures are primarily based on visual inspection and material testing, which have limitations. The available assessment techniques provide only partial information regarding structural performance.
Pre-Event-Reference-Free TLS-Based Geometric Condition Assessment of Post-Fire RC Flexural Members · 2026 · DOIThe effects of moisture content on the failure behavior of the rock-concrete interface are not fully understood. Prior work has focused on the influence of rock surface roughness and the effects of water on individual materials, but the combined effects of moisture content and temperature are not well studied.
Influence of moisture content on failure behavior of the rock–concrete interface at positive and negative temperatures under tensile loading · 2026 · DOIThe study notes that previous research has focused on the effects of fire on masonry structures, but the specific effects of fire exposure and water extinguishing on granitic building stone are not well understood.
Superposition Effects of Fire Exposure and Water Extinguishing on Fracturing Mechanisms and Mechanical Behavior of Granitic Building Stone · 2026 · DOIFurther research is needed to investigate the long-term effects of moisture on the rock-concrete interface. Studies should be conducted to examine the effects of other factors, such as chemical reactions or biological activity, on the rock-concrete interface. Research should be done to develop more accurate models for predicting the behavior of the rock-concrete interface under various conditions.
Influence of moisture content on failure behavior of the rock–concrete interface at positive and negative temperatures under tensile loading · 2026 · DOIThe spalling behaviour of high-strength concretes is still not entirely predictable and limited knowledge is available for hydrogen impinging jet flames.
Seawater sea sand concrete (SWSSC), recognized for its green and sustainable nature, has gained attention in marine engineering, yet its high-temperature behavior and fiber effects remain underexplored.
Mechanical behavior and microstructural degradation of basalt fiber reinforced seawater sea sand concrete after high-temperature exposure · 2025 · DOIHowever, there is scarce data on the confinement behaviour of the lightweight concrete (LWC) exposed to elevated temperatures, particularly when wrapped with fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP).
Repair and strengthening of CFRP-wrapped lightweight concrete exposed to elevated temperatures · 2025 · DOIFuture studies could explore “Deep NAS” strategies using high-performance computing (HPC) environments to investigate even more complex, nonlinear structural behaviors.
Prediction of Thermal Degradation in Concrete Structural Elements Using Optimized Artificial Neural Networks and Metaheuristic Algorithms · 2026 · DOIThe study is limited to greywacke specimens and may not be generalizable to other rock types. The machine learning models require a large dataset for training and validation. The study does not consider the effects of other factors, such as moisture content and mineral composition.
A Machine Learning Framework for Estimating Peak Temperatures in Thermally Altered Rock Masses · 2026 · DOIThe lack of studies on the effect of micro PEEK polymer on the mechanical properties of VHSHRC. The need for a new approach to improving the mechanical properties of VHSHRC.
Improvement of Very-High Strength Heat-Resistant Concrete's Brittleness Index Including Micro Polyether Ether Ketone Polymer under High Temperature · 2026 · DOIThe behavior of concrete materials can be severely affected by high temperatures, significantly reducing the safety of the structure. Numerous studies have been conducted on the mechanical properties of concrete structures exposed to fire, but the distinct behavioral differences between early-age and mature concrete during heating and cooling are not well understood.
There is a need to find ways to reduce the influence of high temperatures on the strength of composite reinforcement.
The lack of consideration for internal cavities in large-diameter parallel wire cables. The limited understanding of heat transfer characteristics in large-diameter cables.
Quantifying internal cavity effects on heat transfer in large-diameter parallel wire cables: tests and high-fidelity simulations · 2026 · DOIFire exposure can significantly reduce the mechanical properties of concrete and steel in RC structures. The residual response of fire-exposed RC columns depends on several factors, including peak temperature, time of exposure, and geometry of the member. The use of CFRP sheets can be challenging due to the need for proper surface preparation and application.
Post-Fire Performance Enhancement of Pre-loaded RC Short Columns Using CFRP Confinement · 2026 · DOIEach test condition was represented by one specimen only in the present experimental program. Statistical variability was not evaluated due to the limited number of specimens. The study only considered gradual air cooling after fire exposure.
Post-Fire Performance Enhancement of Pre-loaded RC Short Columns Using CFRP Confinement · 2026 · DOIThe limitations of current research into GPC (GPC) highlight several critical areas that warrant further investigation. Firstly, the long-term performance of GPC under real fire exposure remains underexplored. The lack of standardized fire testing protocols specifically designed for GPC and limited large-scale fire performance data further hinder regulatory acceptance.
Future work will focus on four directions. First, a thermo–hygro–mechanical formulation will be incorporated to model moisture migration, pore-pressure build-up, and spalling-triggered section loss. Second, direct pull-out and beam-end tests will be conducted at different temperature levels to calibrate the bond–slip law more rigorously.
Thermo–mechanical modelling of fire-exposed reinforced concrete beams considering temperature-dependent bond–slip degradation · 2026 · DOITo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study provides one of the first systematic post-fire experimental datasets for 630 MPa thermomechanically rolled reinforcing bars, a material increasingly used in modern RC structures but rarely addressed in existing fire research.
Post-fire mechanical properties of high-strength steel rebars with 630 MPa nominal yield strength under different cooling regimes · 2026 · DOIFurther study on the effects of different heating rates and cooling methods on the mechanical properties of granite, - Investigation of the thermally induced cracking in rocks using the Universal Distinct Element Code (UDEC), - Numerical modeling of the thermal module of UDEC to simulate heat transfer between adjacent…
Superposition Effects of Fire Exposure and Water Extinguishing on Fracturing Mechanisms and Mechanical Behavior of Granitic Building Stone · 2026 · DOIFuture research should focus on incorporating additional variables such as rubber pretreatment techniques, fiber based rubber reinforcement, and alternative curing ARTICLE…
Experimental and machine learning evaluation of crumb rubber concrete strength at elevated temperatures · 2026 · DOIApplying the machine learning approach to other rock types and engineering applications. Investigating the effects of other factors, such as moisture content and mineral composition. Developing more advanced machine learning models for improved accuracy and generalizability.
A Machine Learning Framework for Estimating Peak Temperatures in Thermally Altered Rock Masses · 2026 · DOIInvestigating the effects of different cement types and aggregate compositions on the deformation behavior of concrete - Studying the impact of high-temperature exposure on the durability and long-term performance of concrete structures - Examining the effects of concrete age and high-temperature exposure on the mechanical properties of reinforced…
Investigation of heat transfer characteristics in larger-diameter cables. Consideration of other factors affecting heat transfer in cable-supported bridges, such as wind and humidity.
Quantifying internal cavity effects on heat transfer in large-diameter parallel wire cables: tests and high-fidelity simulations · 2026 · DOILimited data on full assemblies, - Small-scale experiments, - No systematic evidence on fire spread risk in cavities, - Alternative encapsulation materials introduce trade-offs related to manufacturing complexity, brittleness, cost, or reduced…
Are Phase Change Material–Concrete Assemblies in Building Envelopes Fire Safe? Experimental Validation and Numerical Modelling · 2026 · DOIInvestigate fire performance of PCM-integrated composites with different encapsulation materials, - Study the effect of concrete cover thickness on the fire performance of organic PCMs, - Develop systematic evidence on fire spread risk…
Are Phase Change Material–Concrete Assemblies in Building Envelopes Fire Safe? Experimental Validation and Numerical Modelling · 2026 · DOI
Most-cited papers in Fire effects on concrete materials
- A review of mechanical properties of fibre reinforced concrete at elevated temperatures · Cement and Concrete Research · 2020 · 309 citations
- Thermal and mechanical properties of concrete and its constituents at elevated temperatures: A review · Construction and Building Materials · 2020 · 244 citations
- Comparative Study of Supervised Machine Learning Algorithms for Predicting the Compressive Strength of Concrete at High Temperature · Materials · 2021 · 200 citations
- Fire resistance of geopolymer concrete: A critical review · Construction and Building Materials · 2022 · 195 citations
- A review: Material and structural properties of UHPC at elevated temperatures or fire conditions · Cement and Concrete Composites · 2021 · 175 citations
- Performance of geopolymer concrete at elevated temperature − A critical review · Construction and Building Materials · 2024 · 127 citations
- Combined effect of natural fibre and steel fibre on the thermal-mechanical properties of UHPC subjected to high temperature · Cement and Concrete Research · 2024 · 63 citations
- IMPACT OF LINEAR THERMAL BRIDGES ON THERMAL TRANSMITTANCE OF RENOVATED APARTMENT BUILDINGS · Journal of Civil Engineering and Management · 2016 · 59 citations
- Study on the evolution of concrete pore structure and moisture transfer mechanism after high temperature based on different sequence NMR technology · Construction and Building Materials · 2024 · 59 citations
- Effect of steel fiber on the compressive performance and microstructure of ultra-high performance concrete at elevated temperatures · Construction and Building Materials · 2024 · 59 citations
Most recent work
- A comparative study on spalling behaviors of alkali-activated ultra-high performance concrete (AAUHPC) and cement-based UHPC · Journal of Cleaner Production · 2026
- Post-heating evaluation of residual compressive and tensile mechanical properties of basalt fiber reinforced recycled aggregate concrete · Construction and Building Materials · 2026
- Experimental investigation on the fire performance of novel multi-scale fiber reinforced UHPC segments · Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology · 2026
- Bond performance of steel tube-concrete interface at cryogenic temperatures: Tests and formulations · Engineering Structures · 2026
- Database-enabled machine learning framework for predicting fire performance in reinforced concrete columns: Focus on fire resistance, spalling behavior, and comparative evaluation against existing codes · Structures · 2026
- Self-healing effects on fracture toughness of multi-scale fiber-reinforced UHPC after exposure to high temperatures through multi-stage phase change material synergy · Cement and Concrete Composites · 2026
- Effect of specimen size on compressive capacity and damage mechanisms of PET-containing self-consolidating concrete after high-temperature exposure · Engineering Failure Analysis · 2026
- Thermally induced moisture transport in concrete with different types of blended Portland cement studied by 1H-NMR relaxometry · Materials and Structures · 2026
- On the influence of aggregate alteration on shotcrete fire-induced spalling: A coupled H-TRIS and high-speed photography approach · Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology · 2026
- Mode I fracture behavior and multi-scale damage evolution of coral powder-sea sand mortar subjected to thermal damage · Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics · 2026
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