earticle

영어

This study aimed to determine whether forest road concrete structures deteriorate after exposure to forest fires. Field experiments using non-destructive rebound hardness tests and laboratory experiments using compressive strength tests on fire-damaged concrete specimens were conducted. The field study targeted concrete structures located along forest roads in areas affected by large forest fires from 2020 to 2023 in Republic of Korea. Concrete strength was compared between fire-affected and unaffected structures based on both satellite imagery classification and field survey classification. The results showed no significant difference in concrete strength when classified by satellite imagery. However, when classified by field survey, fire-affected structures exhibited a decrease in compressive strength compared to unaffected structures. Additionally, laboratory tests confirmed that concrete strength significantly deteriorates after 30–40 minutes of heat exposure. These findings suggest that forest fires can weaken concrete structures on forest roads, emphasizing the need for post-fire inspections and the establishment of safety standards for fire control roads.