Abstract
This paper presents the findings of an experimental research to investigate the performance of axially restrained elliptical hollow (EHS) steel columns subjected to severe hydrocarbon fire. The test programme involved 12 steel columns presenting 2 oval sections 200 × 100 × 8 mm and 300 × 150 × 8 mm and yielding 2 slenderness λ = 51 and 33. The 1800 mm columns were tested under loading ratios ranging between 0.2 and 0.6 of the ultimate strength determined using EC3 and under axial restraint degree ranging from 0 to 0.16. The obtained results of axial displacements, lateral displacements, measured restraint forces, and high temperatures are presented in the paper. It was found that introducing restraint to the columns with elliptical section produces high restraint forces which reduce the time to lose lateral stability. This is more evident in cases of lower load ratios than the higher load ratios. The numerical study presented in this paper involved building a finite element model to simulate the columns behaviour in fire. The model was validated using the test results obtained from unrestrained and restrained columns fire tests. The model demonstrated good agreement in the prediction of failure times and failure mechanisms of local and overall buckling. The FEM model was then used to conduct a parametric analysis involving factors of slenderness, restraint and loading. The conclusions drawn for this research are presented at the end of the paper.
Highlights
IntroductionThere have been some researches carried out on the performance of stub elliptical columns under loading conditions by Gardner et al [1] [2] and [3] and Chan et al [4] for hollow sections under room temperatures which involved testing and using an ABAQUS validated finite element model that was used in parametric studies giving rise to guidance on the section classification
In spite of the increasing use of elliptical hollow steel sections in buildings
This paper presents the findings of an experimental research to investigate the performance of axially restrained elliptical hollow (EHS) steel columns subjected to severe hydrocarbon fire
Summary
There have been some researches carried out on the performance of stub elliptical columns under loading conditions by Gardner et al [1] [2] and [3] and Chan et al [4] for hollow sections under room temperatures which involved testing and using an ABAQUS validated finite element model that was used in parametric studies giving rise to guidance on the section classification. A limited number of researches under high temperatures were carried out by Scullion et al [6] and [7] on hollow elliptical sections and some other researches were carried out on concrete filled elliptical columns by Ali et al [8] and by Espinos et al [9] [10] who used the Finite Element Method to study the behaviour of concrete filled elliptical sections in fire. The paper includes a parametric finite element study where the validated model was used to study the effect of factors including loads, restraint, and slenderness
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