Designing Steel Structures for Fire Safety

In this book the information relevant to fire design of steel structures is presented in a systematic way in seven chapters. Each Chapter begins with an introduction of various concepts to be covered and follows with detailed explanation of the concepts. The calculation methods as relevant to code provisions (in Europe, North America or other continents) are discussed in detail. Worked examples relevant to calculation methodologies on simple structural elements are presented. For the case of complete structures guidance on how analysis can be carried out is presented.

Chapter 1 of the book is devoted to providing relevant background information to codes and standards and principles of fire resistance design. The chapter discusses the fire safety design philosophies, prescriptive and performance-based design fire safety design issues. Chapter 2 deals with basis of design and mechanical loads. The load combinations to be considered for fire design of structures, as per European and North American codes and standards, are discussed.

Chapter 3 discusses the detailed steps involved in establishing the fire scenarios for various cases. Both Eurocode and North American temperature-time relationships are discussed. Procedures in this section allow the designer to establish the time-temperature relationships or heat flux evolutions under a specified design fire. Chapter 4 deals with steps associated in establishing the temperature history in the steel structure, resulting from fire temperature. The various approaches for undertaking thermal analysis by simple calculation models are discussed.

Chapter 5 presents the steps associated for establishing the mechanical response of a structure exposed to fire. The possibilities for analysis at different levels: member level, sub-structure level and global level are discussed. Full details related to simple calculation methods for undertaking strength analysis at member level are presented. Chapter 6 is devoted to fire resistance issues associated with design of joints. The steps associated with the fire resistance of a bolted or a welded joint through simplified and detailed procedure are discussed.

Chapter 7 deals with thermal and mechanical analysis through advanced calculation models. The procedures involved in the sub-structure analysis or global structural analysis under fire exposure is fully discussed. Case studies are presented to illustrate the detailed fire resistance analysis of various structures. Chapter 8 presents four design examples showing how a complex structure can be designed using the concept of element or sub-structure analysis.

The book concludes with two Annexes which present some of the design information related to material properties and temperature profiles. Annex 1 focuses on thermal properties of structural steel and commonly used insulation materials and resulting temperature profiles in steel. Annex 2 focuses on mechanical properties of structural steel.