IStructE Conference on

Structural Engineering in Hazard Mitigation

31 October 2013, Shanghai, PRC

Structural fire engineering study on

unprotected long span steel trusses

Prof. K F Chung
Dr. H C Ho
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong SAR, PRC

Dr. Y Wong
Arup Fire, Ove Arup & Partners HK Limited
1
Hong Kong SAR, PRC
Scope
 The need of performance-based approach

 Advanced non-linear thermal analysis using FDS;

 Advanced non-linear structural analysis using

ABAQUS;

 Key findings of numerical results

 Temperature distribution history

 Large deformation due to thermal bowling effect
 Large force reversal due to confined thermal expansion

 Conclusions.
2
Real fires in buildings

3
Real fires in buildings (15 November 2010)
A 28-story apartment building
caught fire in Shanghai’s Jing’an
District, killing 58 people and
forcing others to jump from their
windows to escape the flames,
according to reports. At least 90
residents were injured.

4
Structural fire engineering
In-door recreation centre

T1
Swimming pool area

T2

33600
T3

T4

P Q R S T U V W

33600

a) General plan of the steel trusses 5

 Structural fire engineering
In-door recreation centre
Fully protected steel trusses
3 /F

Steel trusses under consideration 2 /F

P Q R S T U V W
2500
1 /F
13200
33600

G /F

Swimming pool

b) Elevation of the building

6
Structural fire engineering

 Prescriptive approach
 A simple, and yet reliable approach to ensure structural safety against a
required fire resistance period.
 All constructional elements and structural members are fire rated to achieve
overall safety of the whole building.

 Performance-based approach
 A realistic assessment on the structural responses of a whole structure under
specific fire exposure.
 A practical way to assess the structural behaviour of a structural system under
a design fire exposure, especially for a structure with a large enclosure.

 Combined prescriptive and performance-based approach

7
Structural fire engineering
Performance based approach
Both physical and mechanical properties are well defined in modern
current codes of practice and design standards of structural fire design.

Codified methods

 BS5950:
Part 8 Code of practice for fire resistant design

 Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures:

Part 1.2: General rules – Structural fire design

 Eurocode 4: Design of composite steel and concrete structures:

Part 1.2: General rules – Structural fire design

Structural responses at elevated temperatures

Non-uniform thermal expansion (or contraction) as well as mechanical
deformation due to reduction in stiffness and strength, integrity and
ductility of structural systems. 8
Thermal analysis
Consideration of fire scenario

 Swimming facilities – Unlike residential and commercial

buildings

 Over 50% floor area are designed as swimming pool

 Wet environment - Low possibility of fire ignition

 Available combustibles:
• Trash bins, a wooden bench, various belongings of
users, life rings and swimming floats

9
 Structural fire engineering
In-door recreation centre
Fully protected steel trusses
3 /F

Steel trusses under consideration 2 /F

Fire Scenario 2
P Q R S T U V W 1 /F
2500

13200

Fire Scenario 1 G /F

Swimming pool

33600

b) Elevation of the building

10
Thermal analysis
Design fire size

 Design fire duration: 20 minute = 1200 s

 Average heat release rate Q

Q = 1.77 MW

 However, a very conservative fire size of 5 MW is adopted in this

study to prove the case.

11
 Long span steel trusses
Member configuration

Kh A B Kh
Kv Kv

C a) Longitudinal truss D

Kh E F Kh
P Q R S T U V W
Kv Kv

b) Transverse truss

Top chord: UC 305 x 305 x 198 S355 Kh = 200 kN/mm

Bottom chord: UC 305 x 305 x 198 S355 Kv = 400 kN/mm
Diagonal and vertical members: UC 203 x 203 x 71 S355
Linking members: RSC 180 x 90 x 26 S355

12
Thermal analysis

Computational fluid dynamics simulation software

 Fire dynamics Simulator (FDS)
 Developed and maintained by the Fire Research division of the Building
and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL) at the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST).

fds-smv
Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS)

13
Thermal analysis – Fire Scenario 1
Temperature distribution history of Truss P
(The fire is directly below Truss P)

149oC

190oC

14
Thermal analysis – Fire Scenario 2
Temperature distribution history of Truss W
(The fire is directly below Truss W)

114oC

64oC

15
Structural analysis

General purpose finite element analysis software

 Abaqus (Version 6.4)
 It offers powerful and complete solutions for both routine and
sophisticated engineering problems covering a vast spectrum of
industrial applications.

16
Structural analysis
Material and load factors for fire limit state

Materials Rm
Steel 1.00
Concrete 1.10

Loads rf
Dead loads 1.00

Imposed loads 1.00

a) Permanent:

b) Non-permanent
1) in escape stairs and lobbies 1.00
2) all other areas (imposed snow loads on roofs may 0.80
be ignored)

Wind loads 0.33

17
 Structural analysis
Loading data Fully protected steel trusses
3 /F

Steel trusses under consideration 2 /F

Fire Scenario 2
P Q R S T U V W 1 /F
2500

13200

Fire Scenario 1 G /F

Swimming pool

33600

Load 2/F
D.L. (kPa) 9.0
S.D.L. (kPa) 3.0
L.L. (kPa) 5.0
Total 17.0 18
Structural analysis
Failure Criteria

Member failure
 A member is considered to be failed when:
i.   r fy

ii.   L,

System failure
 Global deflection limit = Span / 20
= 33600 / 20
= 1680 mm

19
Structural analysis
Stress strain relationships at elevated temperatures for
structural steels

20
 Structural analysis
Undeformed shape of long span steel trusses
Truss T
Truss S Truss U
Truss R Truss V
Truss Q Truss W

Truss P

21
Structural analysis - Fire Scenario 1
Deformation of long span steel trusses

22
Structural analysis - Fire Scenario 1
Deformation history of long span steel trusses
0

-20 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

-40 Truss P Total deflection

-60
Deflection (mm)

-80

-100

-120
-140
Truss S
-160
Time (min)
2000
P Q R -200 S T U V W
0 50

• Maximum total deflection of Truss P = 74.5 mm at time = 11 min.

Truss P is subjected to the highest temperature during fire.
• Maximum total deflection of Truss S = 140.2 mm at time = 11 min.
Truss S exhibits the largest deflection during fire. 23
Structural analysis - Fire Scenario 1
Mid-span deflection of long span steel trusses
Highest temperature during fire Deflection increment
0
0 min 11 min 30 min
P Maximum deflection during fire
-50 W
Q
R S U V
T
-100

-150

• Limiting deflection is L/20 to BS 476 = 1680 mm

• Maximum deflection increment of Truss P due to fire = 23.3 mm at time = 11 min.
Truss P has the highest temperature rise during fire.

• Maximum deflection increment of Truss S due to fire = 46.1 mm at time = 11 min.

Truss S exhibits the largest deflection during fire.
24
Structural analysis - Fire Scenario 1
Stress levels of long span steel trusses

• No strength reduction as the maximum temperature is below 400oC.

• 90% steel members are working below 50% of their design strength.
• Only a few top chord members are stressed to about 85% of their
design strength.
 Structural analysis - Fire Scenario 1
Force reversal at supports

2000

1500

1000
Support reaction (kN)

500 2243

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (minute)
-500 1528
Truss P
-1000
Truss S

-1500

26
Structural analysis - Fire Scenario 2
Deformation history of long span steel trusses

Truss S Total deflection

Truss W

• Maximum total deflection of Truss S = 110.3 mm at time = 10 min.

Truss S exhibits the largest deflection during fire.
• Maximum total deflection of Truss W = 93.2 mm at time = 10 min.
Truss W is subjected to the highest temperature during fire. 27
Structural analysis - Fire Scenario 2
Mid-span deflection of long span steel trusses
Deflection increment

Highest temperature during fire

Maximum deflection during fire

• Limiting deflection is L/20 to BS 476 = 1680 mm

• Maximum deflection increment of Truss W due to fire = 21.0 mm at time = 10 min.
Truss P has the highest temperature rise during fire.

• Maximum deflection increment of Truss S due to fire = 16.2 mm at time = 10 min.

Truss S exhibits the largest deflection during fire.
28
 Structural analysis - Fire Scenario 2
Force reversal at supports

2000

1500

1000
Support reaction (kN)

500 2368

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (minute)
-500 1657

Truss W
-1000
Truss S

-1500

29
Conclusions (I)

 A structural fire engineering study on the thermal and

structural performance of unprotected long span steel
trusses at elevated temperatures is conducted.

 The maximum temperature rises in the steel trusses

are about 200oC in both fire scenarios.

 The structural responses of the trusses are highly

satisfactory in terms of member and system failure
criteria, and hence, no fire protection is required.
Hence, significant saving is achieved through the
structural fire engineering studies.

30
Conclusions (II)
 Owing to the confined thermal expansion at supports
of the trusses, there are significant force reversal in
the top chord members during fire. Hence, all
connection details are re-checked.

 The effect of confined thermal expansion should be

taken into account even the temperature rise is less
than 400oC.

 All the reaction forces at the supports and the forces at

the connections should be closely examined in
structural fire engineering.

31
IStructE Conference on
Structural Engineering in Hazard Mitigation
31 October 2013, Shanghai, PRC

Structural fire engineering study on

unprotected long span steel trusses

Prof. K F Chung
Dr. H C Ho
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong SAR, PRC

Dr. Y Wong
Arup Fire, Ove Arup & Partners HK Limited
Hong Kong SAR, PRC