DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE TO SIMULATE THE STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR OF STEER-FRAMED BUILDINGS IN FIRE

This paper describes the development of computer software capable of s imulating the structural response of steel-framed buildings in fire. T he first part of the paper deals with the basic non-linear formulation of the program, which allows the three-dimensional response of steel members at elevated temperatures to be modelled. Recent extensions of the software, which allow the modelling of semi-rigid connections, lat eral-torsional buckling, continuous floor slabs and strain reversal, a re then discussed. Wherever possible, validation against test data or other independent computer software has been reported, together with i llustrative examples. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.