Robust and pre-fabrication construction techniques are the cutting edge practice in the building industry. Cold-frame, warm-frame and hybrid-frame are three common Light-gauge Steel Frame (LSF) wall constructions applied for better energy performance. Still, the applications of the aforementioned wall configurations are restricted due to limited fire safety studies. This paper presents the fire performance investigations and results of cold-frame, warm-frame, and hybrid frame LSF walls together with three novel configurations maintaining the same material quantities. Successfully validated 3D heat transfer finite element models were extended to six wall configurations. Time variant temperature profiles from Finite Element Analyses were evaluated against the established Load Ratio (LR)-Hot-Flange (HF) temperature curve to determine the structural fire resistance. Modified warm-frame construction showed the best performance where the Fire Resistance Level (FRL) is approximately twice that of conventional LSF wall configurations. Hence, the novel LSF wall configurations obtained by shifting the insulation material toward the fireside of the wall make efficient fire-resistant wall solutions and the new designs are proposed to be incorporated in modular constructions for enhanced fire performance.

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Structural fire damage can be identified as a common accidental disaster throughout the world which cause thousands of deaths, injuries and millions of property damage each year. Fire represents one of the most severe conditions which structures may be subjected. Generally structural element will be exposed to very high temperature (1200 0 C) during a fire propagation. Fire safety of a structure is measured in terms of fire resistance which is the duration that a structural member can exhibits resistance with respect to structural integrity, stability and heat transmission. Concrete generally provides better fire resisting characteristics compared to the other construction materials due to its low thermal conductivity, high heat capacity and slower strength degradation with temperature. Cellular lightweight concrete (CLC) is one of the novel type of concrete which can be identified as a better construction material than conventional concrete due to its numerous advantages. However, limited research work has been carried out to determine the fire performance of CLC. Fire response of structural member depends on the thermal, mechanical and deformation properties of the structural material at elevated temperature. Even though properties at elevated temperatures for normal weight concrete is available in literature, properties of CLC at elevated temperatures (ambient to 1200 0 C) is not thoroughly investigated. Further CLC fire rating under natural/parametric fire situations and under hydrocarbon fire situations need to be studied. EN 1992.1.2 provides minimum thickness requirements under standard fire situation for non-loadbearing and load bearing normal weight concrete walls, but for CLC, these values are not available, hence required to be included. Also, parameters and material property limitations related to spalling effect of CLC during fire exposure has not being investigated. Moreover, residual characteristics of CLC walls after fire situation and ability to withstand a second fire situation needs to be assessed.

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The bond between brick and mortar plays an important role in the ability of masonry to resist loads. The single and most important property of mortar is bond strength, and it is critical that this bond be complete, strong, and durable. The mechanism of bond between masonry units and mortars is known to be influenced by large number of factors. This paper presents an outcome of a study conducted on tensile and shear bond strength of masonry and compressive strength of masonry. It was also investigated to develop a possible relationship between shear and tensile bond strength. An experimental program was conducted to determine the impact of bond strength on compressive strength of masonry. Tensile bond strength was determi led by testing brick couplets and shear bond strength by testing triplets as recommended in relevant standards. Wall panels were tested to find out the compressive strength of masonry. The effect of different factors such as grading of sand, soaking time of bricks and type of bricks on the bond strength as well as the compressive strength of masonry was also found. The outcome of this research will have a higher benefit to the construction industry where masonry structures form a substantial portion.

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