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Fire degradation is an extremely important risk that threatens timber structures. It is therefore normal that timber design codes include provisions for the design and verification of structures under fire loading. Eurocode 5 is no exception to this, but the simplified methods presented in the code show some inconsistencies, and the advanced method is not practical to use for design purposes. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have the ability to model complex problems and have been used in a variety of construction engineering problems. They can learn from a subset of data, and then they can be used to predict the results for other input parameters. The purpose of this study is to present the possibility of the use of ANNs for the prediction of temperatures in rectangular timber cross sections, under fire exposure.

In this work, a multilayer feedforward ANN has been trained to predict the temperatures within a timber cross section, using as input the size of the cross section, the timber density, the time of exposure and the coordinates of the point within the cross section.

The results obtained clearly indicate that ANN can be used to predict the temperatures in a timber cross section subjected to fire.

ANNs have not been used for the prediction of temperatures in timber cross sections. The use of ANN makes the temperature prediction under a standard fire loading in a cross section extremely easy to implement in any code. These results can be used to calculate the strength of the elements after fire.

This paper aims to present the results of an extensive experimental programme on the fire behaviour of timber beam-to-column shear connections, loaded perpendicularly to the grain.

The experimental programme comprised tests at normal temperature and loaded fire resistance tests on beam-to-column connections in shear. Twenty-four full-scale tests at normal temperature were performed covering nine different connection typologies, and 19 loaded fire resistance tests were conducted including 11 connections typologies.

The results of the fire resistance tests show that the tested typologies of steel-to-timber dowelled connections reached more than 30 and even 60 minutes of fire resistance. However, aspects such as a wider gap between the beam and the column, reduced dowel spacing, and the presence of reinforcement with self-drilling screws all have a negative influence on the fire resistance.

The experimental programme addressed the fire behaviour of timber beam-to-column shear connections loaded perpendicularly to the grain in a systematic way testing a wide range of common connection typologies significantly enlarging their experimental background.

The purpose of this paper is to present an innovative approach for the development of a methodology to systematically assess the economic performance and for the assessment of the economic sustainability of a building, through the calculation of an economic sustainability index, within the sustainability framework according to the rules defined in EN 16627.

The methodology follows the principle of modularity, where aspects and impacts that influence the economic performance of the building during the phases of its life cycle are assigned to levels. It presents a model based on the construction costs of the building. The methodology in centered in the before use phase and restricted to residential buildings.

Definition of a model for assessing the economic performance and calculation of an economic sustainability index.

The methodology is focused only in the before use phase of the buildings, assuming they have the same functional equivalent. It can be expanded to include the other phases of the building life cycle.

The developed methodology will allow the selection of construction procedures, based on economic sustainability, contributing to more rational and support decisions.

Contributing to a more sustainable society.

The European framework of EN 15643 and EN 16627 for the assessment of building sustainability is new and, as such, not implemented in most practical tools. Also, economic sustainability is not usually considered in detail in existing models. This paper presents a methodology following the framework and, simultaneously, possible to integrate in existing approaches.