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1 – 10 of 48Mustafa Mahamid, Ataollah Taghipour Anvari, Ines Torra-Bilal, Tom Brindley and Michael McNallan
The purpose of this paper is to investigate different types of fire on structural steel members with damaged fireproofing. Two types of fire scenarios are considered, ASTM E119…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate different types of fire on structural steel members with damaged fireproofing. Two types of fire scenarios are considered, ASTM E119 fire and Hydrocarbon fire. In industrial facilities such as oil refineries, certain units maybe subjected to hydrocarbon fire, and its effect might be different than standard fire. The purpose of this study is to compare both types of fire scenarios on steel beams with damaged fireproofing and determine the fire rating of the damaged beams under each fire scenario.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is performed using computational methods, thermal-stress finite element analysis that is validated with experimental results. The results of practical beam sizes and typical applied loads in such structures have been plotted and compared with steel beams with non-damaged fireproofing.
Findings
The results show significant difference in the beam fire resistance between the two fire scenarios and show the fire resistance for beam under each case. The study provides percentage reduction in fire resistance under each case for the most commonly used cases in practice under different load conditions.
Originality/value
Extensive literature search has been performed by the authors, and few studies were found relevant to the topic. The question this study answers comes up regularly in practice. There are no standards to codes that address this issue.
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Maha Assad, Rami Hawileh, Ghada Karaki, Jamal Abdalla and M.Z. Naser
This research paper aims to investigate reinforced concrete (RC) walls' behaviour under fire and identify the thermal and mechanical factors that affect their performance.
Abstract
Purpose
This research paper aims to investigate reinforced concrete (RC) walls' behaviour under fire and identify the thermal and mechanical factors that affect their performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model is developed to predict the response of RC walls under fire and is validated through experimental tests on RC wall specimens subjected to fire conditions. The numerical model incorporates temperature-dependent properties of the constituent materials. Moreover, the validated model was used in a parametric study to inspect the effect of the fire scenario, reinforcement concrete cover, reinforcement ratio and configuration, and wall thickness on the thermal and structural behaviour of the walls subjected to fire.
Findings
The developed 3D FE model successfully predicted the response of experimentally tested RC walls under fire conditions. Results showed that the fire resistance of the walls was highly compromised under hydrocarbon fire. In addition, the minimum wall thickness specified by EC2 may not be sufficient to achieve the desired fire resistance under considered fire scenarios.
Originality/value
There is limited research on the performance of RC walls exposed to fire scenarios. The study contributed to the current state-of-the-art research on the behaviour of RC walls of different concrete types exposed to fire loading, and it also identified the factors affecting the fire resistance of RC walls. This guides the consideration and optimisation of design parameters to improve RC walls performance in the event of a fire.
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Aminuddin Suhaimi, Izni Syahrizal Ibrahim and Mariyana Aida Ab Kadir
This review paper seeks to enhance knowledge of how pre-loading affects reinforced concrete (RC) beams under fire. It investigates key factors like deflection and load capacity to…
Abstract
Purpose
This review paper seeks to enhance knowledge of how pre-loading affects reinforced concrete (RC) beams under fire. It investigates key factors like deflection and load capacity to understand pre-loading's role in replicating RC beams' actual responses to fire, aiming to improve fire testing protocols and structural fire engineering design.
Design/methodology/approach
This review systematically aggregates data from existing literature on the fire response of RC beams, comparing scenarios with (WP) and without pre-loading (WOP). Through statistical tools like the two-tailed t-test and Mann–Whitney U-test, it assesses deflection extremes. The study further examines structural responses, including flexural and shear behavior, ultimate load capacity, post-yield behavior, stiffness degradation and failure modes. The approach concludes with a statistical forecast of ideal pre-load levels to elevate experimental precision and enhance fire safety standards.
Findings
The review concludes that pre-loading profoundly affects the fire response of RC beams, suggesting a 35%–65% structural capacity range for realistic simulations. The review also recommended the initial crack load as an alternative metric for determining the pre-loading impact. Crucially, it highlights that pre-loading not only influences the fire response but also significantly alters the overall structural behavior of the RC beams.
Originality/value
The review advances structural fire engineering with an in-depth analysis of pre-loading's impact on RC beams during fire exposure, establishing a validated pre-load range through thorough statistical analysis and examination of previous research. It refines experimental methodologies and structural design accuracy, ultimately bolstering fire safety protocols.
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Milad Shabanian and Nicole Leo Braxtan
Thermomechanical behavior of intermediate-size beam-to-wall assemblies including Glulam-beams connected to cross-laminated timber (CLT) walls with T-shape steel doweled…
Abstract
Purpose
Thermomechanical behavior of intermediate-size beam-to-wall assemblies including Glulam-beams connected to cross-laminated timber (CLT) walls with T-shape steel doweled connections was investigated at ambient temperature (AT) and after and during non-standard fire exposure.
Design/methodology/approach
Three AT tests were conducted to evaluate the load-carrying capacity and failure modes of the assembly at room temperature. Two post-fire performance (PFP) tests were performed to study the impact of 30-min (PFP30) and 60-min (PFP60) partial exposure to a non-standard fire on the residual strength of the assemblies. The assemblies were exposed to fire in a custom-designed frame, then cooled and loaded to failure. A fire performance (FP) test was conducted to study the fire resistance (FR) during non-standard fire exposure by simultaneously applying fire and a mechanical load equal to 65% of the AT load carrying capacity.
Findings
At AT, embedment failure of the dowels followed by splitting failure at the Glulam-beam and tensile failure of the epoxy between the layers of CLT-walls were the dominant failure modes. In both PFP tests, the plastic bending of the dowels was the only observed failure mode. The residual strength of the assembly was reduced 14% after 30 min and 37% after 60 min of fire exposure. During the FP test, embedment failure of timber in contact with the dowels was the only major failure mode, with the maximum rate of displacement at 51 min into the fire exposure.
Originality/value
This is the first time that the thermomechanical performance of such an assembly with a full-contact connection is presented.
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Salah F. El-Fitiany and Maged A. Youssef
Existing analytical methods for the evaluation of fire safety of reinforced concrete (RC) structures require extensive knowledge of heat transfer calculations and the finite…
Abstract
Purpose
Existing analytical methods for the evaluation of fire safety of reinforced concrete (RC) structures require extensive knowledge of heat transfer calculations and the finite element method. This paper aims to propose a rational method to predict the axial capacity of RC columns exposed to standard fire.
Design/methodology/approach
The average temperature distribution along the section height is first predicted for a specific fire scenario. The corresponding distribution of the reduced concrete strength is then integrated to develop expressions to calculate the axial capacity of RC columns exposed to fire from four faces.
Findings
These expressions provide structural engineers with a rational tool to satisfy the objective-based design clauses specified in the National Code of Canada in lieu of the traditional prescriptive methods.
Research limitations/implications
The research is limited to standard fire curves and needs to be extended to cover natural fire curves.
Originality/value
This paper is the first to propose an accurate yet simple method to calculate the axial capacity of columns exposed to standard fire curves. The method can be applied using a simple Excel sheet. It can be further developed to apply to natural fire curves.
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Mohannad Naser and Venkatesh Kodur
This paper aims to present results from numerical studies on the response of fire exposed composite girders subjected to dominant flexural and shear loading. A finite…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present results from numerical studies on the response of fire exposed composite girders subjected to dominant flexural and shear loading. A finite element-based numerical model was developed to trace the thermal and structural response of composite girders subjected to simultaneous structural loading and fire exposure. This model accounts for various critical parameters including material and geometrical nonlinearities, property degradation at elevated temperatures, shear effects, composite interaction between concrete slab and steel girder, as well as temperature-induced local buckling. To generate test data for validation of the model, three composite girders, each comprising of hot-rolled (standard) steel girder underneath a concrete slab, were tested under simultaneous fire and gravity loading.
Design/methodology/approach
The validated model was then applied to investigate the effect of initial geometric imperfections, load level, thickness of slab and stiffness of shear stud on fire response of composite girders.
Findings
Results from experimental and numerical analysis indicate that the composite girder subjected to flexural loading experience failure through flexural yielding mode, while the girders under shear loading fail through in shear web buckling mode. Further, results from parametric studies clearly infer that shear limit state can govern the response of fire exposed composite girders under certain loading configuration and fire scenario.
Originality/value
This paper presents results from numerical studies on the response of fire exposed composite girders subjected to dominant flexural and shear loading.
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Ataollah Taghipour Anvari, Mustafa Mahamid, Michael McNallan and Mohammadreza Eslami
The purpose of this paper is to present the effect of damaged fireproofing on structural steel members. This study will show that a minor damage in fireproofing will reduce the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the effect of damaged fireproofing on structural steel members. This study will show that a minor damage in fireproofing will reduce the fire rating of members significantly. Damaged fireproofing happens in structures due to various reasons, and the question is always how effective is this fireproofing? This paper presents the results of one type of fireproofing and presents a parametric study on the size of damage and its effect on fire resistance of structural steel members.
Design/methodology/approach
The study has been performed using numerical methods, thermal and structural finite element analysis. The analysis method has been verified by experimental results.
Findings
Small fire protection damage or loss leads to significant rise of temperature at the damaged parts and causes severe fire resistance reduction of beams. The higher fire protection damage’s extension at the bottom flange of the steel beams does not have any major influence on the rate of reduction of fire resistance of the beams. Steel beams experience greater fire resistance reduction at higher load levels because of the existing of higher stresses and loads within the steel beam section.
Research limitations/implications
The study has been performed using finite element analysis, and it covers a wide range of practical sizes. However, experimental work will be performed by the researchers when funding is granted.
Practical implications
The study provides researchers and practitioners with an estimate on the effect of damaged fireproofing on fire resistance of structural steel beams.
Social implications
Understanding the effect of the effect of damaged fireproofing helps in estimating the fire resistance of structural steel members, which may protect collapses and disasters.
Originality/value
The research is original; extensive literature review has been performed, and this research is original.
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The extreme nature of fire makes structural fire engineering unique in that the load actions dictating design are intense and neither geographically nor seasonally bound. Simply…
Abstract
Purpose
The extreme nature of fire makes structural fire engineering unique in that the load actions dictating design are intense and neither geographically nor seasonally bound. Simply, fire can break out anywhere, at any time and for any number of reasons. Despite the apparent need, the fire design of structures still relies on expensive fire tests, complex finite element simulations and outdated procedures with little room for innovation. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This primer highlights the latest state of the art in this area with regard to performance-based design in fire structural engineering. In addition, this short review also presents a series of examples of successful implementation of performance-based fire design of structures from around the world.
Findings
A comparison between global efforts clearly shows the advances put forth by European and Oceanian efforts as opposed to the rest of the world. In addition, it can be clearly seen that most performance-based fire designs are related to steel and composite structures.
Originality/value
In one study, this paper presents a concise and global view to performance-based fire design of structures from success stories from around the world.
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Venkatesh Kodur and Mohannad Z. Naser
This purpose of this paper is to quantify the effect of local instability arising from high shear loading on response of steel girders subjected to fire conditions.
Abstract
Purpose
This purpose of this paper is to quantify the effect of local instability arising from high shear loading on response of steel girders subjected to fire conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element model able to evaluate behavior of fire-exposed steel girders is developed. This model, is capable of predicting fire response of steel girders taking into consideration flexural, shear and deflection limit states.
Findings
Results obtained from numerical studies show that shear capacity can degrade at a higher pace than flexural capacity under certain loading scenarios, and hence, failure can result from shear effects prior to attaining failure in flexural mode.
Originality/value
The developed model is unique and provides valuable insight (and information) to the fire response of typical hot-rolled steel girder subjected to high shear loading.
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Previous works in constructing interaction diagrams have only focused on incorporating transient creep strain implicitly in the ultimate limit strain. The present paper aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
Previous works in constructing interaction diagrams have only focused on incorporating transient creep strain implicitly in the ultimate limit strain. The present paper aims to use different approaches to define concrete ultimate limit strain (failure strain) envelops at high temperatures for preloaded and unloaded, confined and unconfined, columns during heating are proposed. These approaches are chosen to understand the effect of using different techniques to determine transient creep strain on the resulted Nu–Mu diagrams.
Design/methodology/approach
Transient creep strain is included within the concrete ultimate limit strain relationships, implicitly and explicitly, by four different ways, and accordingly, four different failure criteria are suggested. To define the concrete ultimate limit strain, studies are conducted to evaluate the compression strain corresponding to the maximal flexural capacity at elevated temperatures. In the analysis, the thermal and structural analyses are decoupled and, based on the resulted ultimate limit strain, the Nu – Mu diagrams are constructed at different fire exposures.
Findings
The validity of the proposed model is established by comparing its predictions with experimental results found in the literature. Finally, comparative calculations regarding interaction diagrams obtained by the proposed model and by other methods found in the literature are performed. It was found that the proposed model predictions agree well with experimental results. It was also found that the suggested approaches, which include simplifications, reasonably predicted the exact column capacity.
Originality/value
The model.
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