Abstract:
In fire conditions, Concrete Filled Stainless Steel Tubular columns undergo multi-phase fire
and loading condition. These are loading at ambient temperature, loading during the heating
as the fire accelerates, loading during the cooling phase as the fire intensity gradually
declines and loading after the fire. However, limited research has been conducted on fire and
post fire behavior of CFSST columns subjected to the entire fire and loading histories.
Accordingly, this thesis investigated fire and post fire behavior of CFSST columns in the
entire fire and load history. Sequential coupled thermal-stress analysis was utilized to
establish the temperature field and the structural response of the columns by using the
commercial Finite Element software ABAQUS. Existing fire and post fire test data from
literature were used to validate the Finite Element models. Validation was based on the
results such as: temperature versus time, deformation versus time, fire resistance and post
fire residual capacity. After validation of the test results, the effect of thesis parameters on
fire and post fire behavior of Concrete Filled Stainless Steel Tubular columns were examined
by using the validated Finite Element Model. Increasing load level from Nf=0.3 to Nf=0.45,
decreases fire resistance by 24% and increases the post fire residual strength by 7%.
Increasing concrete grade from C30 to C37, decreases the fire resistance by 1% and
increases the post fire residual strength by 3%. Increasing concrete grade from C30 to C105,
decreases the fire resistance by 11% and increases the post fire residual strength by 8%.
Increasing stainless-steel grade from SSG 1.4301 to SSG 1.4311, increases the fire resistance
by 12% and increases the post fire residual strength by 10%. Increasing the diameter from
400mm to 600mm, increases the fire resistance by 22% and increases the post fire residual
strength by 45%. Increasing the heating time from 15min to 30min, decreases the post fire
residual strength by 19%. Increasing the heating time from 15min to 60min, decreases the
post fire residual strength by 69%. Increasing the thickness from 10mm to 15mm, increases
the fire resistance by 2% and increases the post fire residual strength by 16%. Diameter,
load level and stainless steel grade have significant effect on fire resistance. However,
concrete grade and thickness have negligible effect on fire resistance. Diameter, thickness
and heating time have significant influence, while load level and stainless steel grade have
moderate influence on post fire residual strength. However, concrete grade has negligible
influence on post fire residual strength.
Key words: CFSST columns, fire, post fire, heating, cooling, FEM