Structural behaviour in fire compartment under different heating regimes -Part 1 (slab thermal gradients)

Modelling the full-scale Fire Tests at Cardington has led to new understand ing of the behaviour of structures under file conditions. Much of this unde rstanding has come from parametric explorations using models verified again st the tests. The structural phenomena observed in highly redundant, compos ite structures, during a compartment fire are dominated by restrained therm al expansion. The large deflections experienced in the structural elements in the region of the fire art: almost entirely attributable to thermally in duced strains. The mechanisms responsible for producing these large deflect ions are restrained thermal expansion and thermal bowing. Material degradat ion and loading an secondary influences. A clear understanding of the respo nse of the structure to an average temperature increase and through depth t emperature gradients is essential. This paper discusses the structural resp onse when subjected to different heating regimes obtained by changing the m ean temperature and temperature gradient applied in the concrete slab of th e composite floor slab system to a computer model of the British Steel rest rained beam test. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.