Parametric analysis related to dimensioning of tubular steel columns filled with concrete in a fire situation

Abstract

For the dimensioning of structural elements in fire situation, simplified equations and parameters are commonly used in analytical equations or numerical models. More complex equations or simplified values can be chosen by the designer for determine materials properties in high temperature in numerical models, however, numerical modeling can be quite sensitive to the variation of some of the physical and mechanical properties. In this paper, the sensitivity of the numerical model in relation to the values according to the level of simplification chosen was evaluated, presenting an analysis in relation to the results found to contribute to the choice of these parameters and presenting the indications found in the literature. In this sense, this work presents a study of sensitivity to the variation of the values of steel and concrete properties, presented in the Eurocode and Brazilian standards, in addition to the moisture content and emissivity of the surface exposed to fire, for the dimensioning, in a fire situation, of steel tube columns, of circular and square section, filled with concrete. The studies were carried out via numerical modeling developed in the software ABAQUS. It was verified that the resulting emissivity values equal to 0.7 or 0.8, recommended in the literature, are conservative, and the choice of either does not bring significant changes in the temperature field obtained for the structural elements under analysis. It was also verified that the concrete moisture content is a relevant aspect for the formation of its temperature field, also affecting, but to a lesser extent, the steel temperature. Regarding the physical and mechanical properties of the materials, this sensitivity study suggests the adoption of the values from the equations presented in Eurocodes, without simplifications, and with the specific heat and thermal conductivity of the concrete, adopted in accordance with the Eurocode 4.