Cyclic Performance of RC Columns after Exposure to Symmetric or Asymmetric Fire

After a fire accident, buildings must be able to maintain their safety against various dynamic stimuli, such as earthquakes, during operation. Based on multiple placement positions, building members experience different fire exposure conditions during a fire. This research examines the impact of symmetric and asymmetric fires on the post-fire dynamic behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) columns under cyclic loading. A multistage model was introduced to analyze RC columns after experiencing different fire scenarios. The thermal and structural analyses were performed according to fire conditions and column dimensions. The cyclic load was applied to RC columns after various heating-cooling cycles. Initially, the proposed model was validated using laboratory tests. Subsequently, utilizing the established model, the impacts of fire scenarios, whether symmetric or asymmetric, on the initial stiffness, load-bearing capacity, ductility, and energy dissipation capacity of RC columns under various fire durations (30, 60, 120, and 180 min) were evaluated. Based on the results, changing the extent of the RC columns’ fire-exposed surface significantly affects their important dynamic parameters. Notably, reducing the fire-exposed surface of concrete columns substantially increases the cumulative depreciated energy of columns under cyclic loading.