During a fire, the elevated temperatures can create high forces within the steel section and the concrete chord of a composite beam. These forces are generally transferred by ductile
shear connectors, which have a limited deformation capacity. While a reduced degree of
shear connection is widely used for design at ambient conditions, designing for structural
fire design requires a higher calculatory effort.
This thesis aims to provide two sets of rules for the safe application of a reduced degree of
shear connection at elevated temperatures. One set of rules aims to limit the maximum slip
of a composite beam in a fire situation. The second set provides rules for the calculation of
the bending moment capacity at elevated temperatures.
To investigate the slip in the composite joint, four large scale experiments, parametric studies
with finite element models, and analytic studies were conducted. Each large scale experiment
consisted of two 9 m composite beams. With these experiments different combinations
of steel sections, steel grade, fire load, and degree of shear connection where tested. For
the parametric studies, detailed solid finite element models were developed using the finite
element program Abaqus. These models were validated with the results of the experiments
and literature. The analytic studies model the slip of a composite beam in fire and provide
a linearised description of the interface slip for the first minutes in the fire. The analytic
model is used to describe various influences on the slip in a fire situation.
The results of the thesis identified three dominant effects elevated temperatures have on the
slip: Slip due to thermal elongation of the steel section, slip due to thermal curvature of the
composite beam, and slip due to bending with decreasing stiffness at elevated temperatures.
Some of the most influential parameters on the slip between the steel and concrete sections
are the stiffness of the composite joint, the degree of shear connection, and the relation
between the tensile capacity of the concrete chord and the shear capacity of the concrete
joint. The entire list of the most influential parameters is included, along with evaluations of each. A description of the rising degree of shear connection at elevated temperatures is
presented.
Finally, practice oriented design rules and limits are given for the safe use of the partial
connection theory for composite beams in fire.
«
During a fire, the elevated temperatures can create high forces within the steel section and the concrete chord of a composite beam. These forces are generally transferred by ductile
shear connectors, which have a limited deformation capacity. While a reduced degree of
shear connection is widely used for design at ambient conditions, designing for structural
fire design requires a higher calculatory effort.
This thesis aims to provide two sets of rules for the safe application of a reduced d...
»