Fire resistance of stainless steel hollow section columns

Abstract

This work aims to improve the knowledge about the behaviour of ferritic stainless steel hollow section columns. In this work, three ?re tests performed at the University of Liege have been used to calibrate ?nite element models. The three columns have been modelled in SAFIR, a software which is able to solve mechanical and thermal problems using ?nite elements. In order to obtain a reliable ?nite element model, several parameters have been studied. The parameters which had the most signi?cant in?uence on the results were kept, and the others were neglected. After validating the models against the tests results, those ?nite element models have been used to generate numerical results. Then, the results have been compared to the bearing capacity calculated at elevated temperatures with the current design standards and other new predictive models. Finally, the ability of the model proposed by the European code to safely predict the strength of columns at temperature below 600°C has been concluded, as well as the well-adapted shape of the buckling curve proposed by Lopes for temperatures above 600°C. The in?uence of the enhanced material properties on the bearing capacity of columns has also been highlighted.