Modelling of heated composite floor slabs with reference to the Cardingtonexperiments

This paper describes a method of modelling composite floor slabs in fire co nditions using a stress-resultant approach. The FEAST suite, which consists of two main computer programs is described. The first, SRAS, is designed t o model the behaviour of arbitrary orthotropic plate sections at elevated t emperatures. The second program, FEAL interfaces with the finite element pa ckage ABAQUS, allowing realistic models of the behaviour of whole structure s in fire conditions to be obtained. The paper describes how SRAS was used to analyse the floor stab of the Cardington fire tests and results showing the behaviour of the slab under a variety of loading conditions are present ed. The suitability of FEAI as a key component in the analysis of redundant structures under fire conditions is briefly demonstrated. (C) 2001 Elsevie r Science Ltd. All rights reserved.