Bridge & Tunnel logo Bridge & Tunnel Engineering Hanoi University of Civil Engineering
Research area 06

Fire resistance, durability and service life

Concrete structures during and after fire, reinforcement corrosion and cathodic protection, and the remaining life of bridges in service.

24 publications24 papers2016⁠–⁠20265 with publications5 listed on staff profiles1 project

Overview

This area has two main strands: the behaviour of reinforced and prestressed concrete members in fire, and chloride-induced reinforcement corrosion with its protection. Most results combine tests with numerical models and have appeared in Construction and Building Materials, Cement and Concrete Composites, Engineering Structures and Structures [6, 9, 11, 15].

Main research themes

Hollow-core slabs, columns and bridge girders in fire

The shear resistance of deep prestressed hollow-core slabs in fire and at elevated temperature, and the effect of steel fibres on the fire endurance of extruded hollow-core slabs, were studied [5, 6, 7]. A finite element temperature model showed that a pretensioned I-girder lost up to 51 % of its initial flexural capacity under hydrocarbon fire, while the post-tensioned girder remained stable for the first 90 minutes [19]. The fire resistance of reinforced concrete columns was calculated with the Russian standard SP 468 for Vietnamese conditions, and the effect of concrete spalling on thermally induced compression in restrained columns was studied [13, 20].

Reinforcement corrosion and corrosion-induced cracking

Microcell and macrocell corrosion of steel bars in reinforced concrete slabs was studied in different corrosive environments, under alternate wetting and drying and at different chloride levels [12, 15, 16]. Analytical and numerical models describe non-uniform, multi-peak rust layers around the bar and corrosion-induced concrete cracking, from initiation to crack propagation [8, 10, 11, 14]. Cathodic protection with sacrificial zinc anodes for patch-repaired reinforced concrete slabs was tested and its layout optimised [21, 23].

Remaining life of bridges

The first six spans of the Long Biên Bridge (1899⁠–⁠1902) on the Hanoi side were modelled numerically and recalibrated with geometric surveys to assess remaining life and support maintenance planning [18].

Projects, books and laboratory

The national project on fly ash, sea sand, seawater and glass-fibre FRP reinforcement for coastal and island infrastructure (2017⁠–⁠2021) addresses durability in marine environments. The laboratory has an ultrasonic tester, a Profometer 5 rebar locator and a crack-width microscope for condition surveys of concrete.

Laboratory and services →

Research projects (1)

Project titles as on the staff profiles (Vietnamese).

  • Principal investigator (2017⁠–⁠2021). Nghiên cứu sử dụng tro bay nhiệt điện kết hợp với cát mặn, nước mặn và cốt sợi thuỷ tinh FRP trong công trình hạ tầng ven biển và hải đảo - mã số: ĐTĐL.CN-19/17.

Directions of development

The directions below are those shown by the papers of 2023⁠–⁠2026, the projects and the research interests stated on staff profiles; this page states no plans or funding.

  1. Post-fire assessment of prestressed bridge girders

    A 2026 paper quantifies prestress loss in fire-damaged girders by laboratory tests and field assessment, following the 2025 paper on I-girders under hydrocarbon fire [19, 24].

  2. Cathodic protection of repaired structures

    Two papers of 2025⁠–⁠2026 on sacrificial zinc anodes move the corrosion work from modelling to protection [21, 23].

  3. Corrosion detection by non-destructive testing and AI

    Staff profiles list “corrosion assessment by NDT and AI”, and a 2026 paper uses ground-penetrating radar with deep learning to detect corrosion in reinforced concrete slabs [22].

  4. Fire behaviour of transport and underground structures

    Staff profiles list “fire behaviour of reinforced and prestressed concrete in transport and underground structures” as a research interest; the 2025 paper on concrete spalling in columns under non-standard fire belongs to this strand [20].

People in this area

With publications in this area (5)

Staff who list this area on their profile (5)

Current staff who list this area on their profile; the same group appears when the people page is filtered by area and on the area cards.

Publications in this area (24)

Every journal paper, conference paper, book chapter and book classified into this area, newest first. Members of the group in bold, * corresponding author; titles in their original language.

2026

  1. [24]Phung, B. T., Nguyen, V. M.*, Nguyen, T. K., Nguyen, L., & Nguyen, T. N. H. (2026). Structural response of fire-damaged prestressed concrete girders with quantified prestress loss: Laboratory testing and Crossbow-based field assessment. Construction and Building Materials, 533, 146739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.146739
  2. [23]Bui, H. T.*, Tan, K. H. (2026). Effective zinc sacrificial anode cathodic protection for corrosion mitigation in patch-repaired reinforced concrete slabs. RILEM Bookseries, 269-278. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-27919-4_33
  3. [22]Bui, H. T.*, Tan, K. H.* (2026). Intelligent corrosion detection in reinforced concrete slabs using GPR and YOLOv11: A fully non-destructive and automated deep learning framework. Construction and Building Materials, 506, 145014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.145014

2025

  1. [21]Bui, H. T.*, Tan, K. H.* (2025). Optimising zinc sacrificial anode configurations for corrosion protection in patch-repaired reinforced concrete slabs: Experimental insights and underlying electrochemical mechanisms. Journal of Building Engineering, 108, 112915. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2025.112915
  2. [20]Nguyen, T. T.*, Nguyen, T. T.*, Nguyen, T. N. H., Dang, V. H., Nguyen, T. N., & Nguyen, N. P. (2025). Effects of Concrete Spalling on Thermal-Induced Compression Force in Restrained Reinforced Concrete Columns Exposed to Non-standard Fire. In: Safeguarding Structural Resilience Under Extreme Events. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Springer, 457-471. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-92719-5_38
  3. [19]Tran, V. H., Phung, B. T., Vu, D. T., & Nguyen, T. N. H. (2025). Flexural performance of prestressed concrete I-shaped bridge girders exposed to hydrocarbon fire. Journal of Science and Transport Technology, 5(1), 61-76. https://doi.org/10.58845/jstt.utt.2025.en.5.1.61-76
  4. [18]Depale, B., Pham, D. D., & Le, B. D. (2025). Residual life assessment (RLA) of Long Bien Bridge (Hanoi). Procedia Structural Integrity, 75, 254-261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prostr.2025.11.027

2024

  1. [17]Bui, H. T.*, Tan, K. H. (2024). Corrosion-induced cracks in reinforced concrete slabs incorporating multi-peak nonuniform rust layer. RILEM Bookseries, 677-687. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-53389-1_61
  2. [16]Bui, H. T., Maekawa, K., Tan, K. H.* (2024). Electrochemical corrosion kinetics of steel bars in pseudo-transparent concrete under different alkaline properties and chloride contamination levels. Construction and Building Materials, 421, 135636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.135636
  3. [15]Bui, H. T., Tan, K. H.* (2024). Microcell and macrocell corrosion kinetics of steel bars in reinforced concrete slabs subjected to alternate wet and dry environments. Construction and Building Materials, 426, 136181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.136181
  4. [14]Bui, H. T.*, Tan, K. H.* (2024). Non-uniform distribution model of rust layer around steel bar circumference and its effect on corrosion-induced concrete cracking. Structures, 68, 107132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2024.107132

2023

  1. [13]Dang, V. H., Nguyen, T. N. H., Vu, N. L., & Nguyen, T. T. (2023). Case studies on determining fire resistance of uniaxial bending reinforced concrete columns subjected to 4-side standard fire exposure. Journal of Science and Technology in Civil Engineering (STCE) - HUCE, 17(2), 21-34. https://doi.org/10.31814/stce.huce2023-17(2)-03
  2. [12]Bui, H. T., Maekawa, K., Tan, K. H.* (2023). Microcell and macrocell corrosion of steel bars in reinforced concrete slabs under different corrosive environments and cathode/anode configurations. Cement and Concrete Composites, 138, 104989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2023.104989
  3. [11]Bui, H. T., Tan, K. H.* (2023). Multi-peak nonuniform model of rust distribution and corrosion-induced concrete cracking in reinforced concrete slabs. Cement and Concrete Composites, 140, 105087. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2023.105087
  4. [10]Bui, H. T., Tan, K. H. (2023). Simulation of time-varying corrosion rate of rebars and corrosion-induced cracks in reinforced concrete structures subjected to chloride contamination. Proceedings of the International Conference - Celebrating 60 Years of IBST, Hanoi, 222-231. https://doi.org/10.59382/pro.intl.con-ibst.2023.ses1-26
  5. [9]Bui, H. T., Tan, K. H.* (2023). Time-dependent nonuniform numerical model of corrosion process and consequent corrosion-induced concrete cracking under chloride attack. Structures, 52, 332-347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2023.03.113

2022

  1. [8]Bui, H. T., Maekawa, K., Tan, K. H.* (2022). Analytical model of corrosion-induced cracks in concrete considering time-varying deformations of layers, mechanical properties of rust. Construction and Building Materials, 316, 125883. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.125883

2021

  1. [7]Nguyen, H.T.N., Y. Li and K.H. Tan. “Shear behavior of fiber-reinforced concrete hollow-core slabs under elevated temperatures.” Construction and Building Materials, 2021. 275: p. 121362.
  2. [6]Nguyen, H.T.N. and K.H. Tan. “Shear response of deep precast/prestressed concrete hollow core slabs subjected to fire.” Engineering Structures, 2021. 227: p. 111398.

2020

  1. [5]Nguyen, T.N.H and Tan, K.H. Effect of steel fibers on fire endurance of extruded hollow-core slabs. 11th International Conference on Structures in Fire SIF’20, 30th Nov – 2nd Dec, 2020, Brisbane, Australia. https://doi.org/10.14264/8a10a18
  2. [4]Kien, D. D., Toan, K. T., & Danh, L. B. (2020, November). Fire Resistance Evaluation of Reinforced Concrete Structures. In 2020 5th International Conference on Green Technology and Sustainable Development (GTSD) (pp. 588-592). IEEE.

2018

  1. [3]Nguyen, T.N.H, Tan, K.H. Experimental studies on shear behavior of deep prestressed concrete hollow core slabs under fire conditions, 10th International Conference on Structures in Fire SIF’18, June 06-08, 2018, Belfast, United Kingdom.
  2. [2]Nguyen, T.N.H, Tan, K.H., and Kanda, T. Shear behavior of deep precast/prestressed concrete hollow core slabs at ambient and under fire conditions. 43rd Conference on Our World in Concrete & Structures, August 31-31, 2018, Singapore (Keynote paper)

2016

  1. [1]Trần Bảo Việt, Vũ Việt Hưng, Vũ Thái Sơn (2016). Các vấn đề kỹ thuật cần chú ý trong thiết kế kết cấu bản mặt cầu tăng cường độ bền. Hội nghị Khoa học toàn quốc Vật liệu và Kết cấu Composite, Đại học Nha Trang, 812-819.

How the list was made: every publication on the profiles of current and retired lecturers was assigned to one or more of the 8 areas from its title and venue; a publication can appear in several areas.