Steel Columns Subjected to Thermal Gradients from Fire Loading: Experimental Evaluation
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 142, Issue 7
Abstract
This paper presents the behavior of axially loaded steel columns subjected to thermal gradients through their cross sections. Experimental tests were conducted on full-scale wide-flange steel columns with and sections made from standard grade 50 steel. The experimental investigations confirmed that variations in fire protection thickness had significant influence on the thermal gradient developing through the steel cross section. Thermal gradient along the flanges caused bowing of column specimens toward the hotter side. Thermal bowing introduced second-order moments and adversely affected stability, leading to failure of column specimens by inelastic flexural column buckling. The experimental behavior and results were compared with those obtained from detailed nonlinear finite-element analyses of the tested specimens. These nonlinear finite-element models utilized standard (temperature-dependent) material properties, and reasonably predicted the axial load-temperature-deformation behavior and failure temperature of column specimens subjected to nonuniform heating.
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Acknowledgments
Experimental tests were conducted at Bowen Laboratory for Large-Scale Civil Engineering Research at Purdue University. The research presented in this paper was funded by the National Science Foundation (Grant Nos. CMMI-0825506 and 0601201). The project is titled “Structural Mechanics of Steel Columns and Beam-Columns under Fire Loading.” Experimental data, findings, and conclusions or recommendations are those of the authors only.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 142 • Issue 7 • July 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 7, 2014
Accepted: Dec 17, 2015
Published online: Feb 25, 2016
Published in print: Jul 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Jul 25, 2016
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