Finite element analysis of composite columns subjected to fire

Abstract

This paper presents the application of finite element software ANSYS to model the thermal and structural behaviour of partially encased I section steel column with concrete. The effect of slip between the steel and the concrete was considered through the use of the contact elements in the ANSYS package. Fire structural data and the related thermal properties were taken from the relevant Eurocodes. The finite element model for the thermal analysis was validated against the available experimental results. Simulations for the structural fire analysis were carried out with and without considering the effects of the slip between the steel and concrete interface. It was found that the model considering the effect of slip slightly underestimated the fire resistance value when compared to the one without the slip. A parametric study involving the effect of the shear transfer coefficient in ANSYS and the load ratios on the fire resistance value of the column is then presented.