Performance of axially restrained carbon and stainless steel perforated beams at elevated temperatures. Issue 15 (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shaheen, Mohamed A; Afshan, Sheida; Foster, Andrew SJ
• Is Part Of: Advances in structural engineering. Volume 24:Issue 15(2021)
• Page Start: 3564
• Page End: 3579
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: Axial restraint -- carbon steel -- circular opening -- elevated temperature -- fire -- perforated beam -- rectangular opening -- stainless steel -- web opening; Structural engineering -- Periodicals; Construction, Technique de la; Structural engineering; Periodicals; 624.1
• DOI: 10.1177/13694332211033965
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-4332

Abstract

This article compares the fire performance of axially restrained perforated carbon and austenitic stainless steel composite beams with circular and rectangular web openings. Finite element models, validated against experimental tests from the literature, were used to perform parametric analysis. The beams were analysed under various levels of load ratio and axial restraint stiffness covering the ranges which may exist in practice. It is concluded that austenitic stainless steel perforated beams show a more ductile fire response compared to carbon steel beams of similar geometry. It is shown that despite stainless steel's higher thermal expansion, the beams exhibit lower thermal-induced peak compressive forces than carbon steel beams giving rise to lower levels of thermal-induced compressive force on the adjacent cold structures. The load ratio was found to determine the relative survivability of stainless steel and carbon steel beams, where at load ratios lower than 0.6, stainless steel beams show superior fire resistance than their carbon steel counterparts. The article also assesses the applicability and accuracy of the Steel Construction Institute method for the design of carbon and stainless steel perforated beams, and recommendations for future improvements are made.