Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Structural Mechanics

  • Chapter
SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering

Abstract

Structural mechanics, sometimes called ‘solid mechanics’ or ‘mechanics of materials’ is concerned with describing the behavior of structural members under loading, as occurs in all buildings and other structures due to the effects of gravity and other forces (e.g. wind, earthquake, etc.). A detailed understanding of structural mechanics is essential for anyone seeking to competently perform structural fire engineering analysis or design.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 869.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,099.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. ASCE, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE-7-05), American Society of Civil Engineers (2005).

    Google Scholar 

  2. A.H. Buchanan, Structural Design for Fire Safety, Wiley, New York, NY (2001).

    Google Scholar 

  3. R.W. Fitzgerald, Mechanics of Materials, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Fitzgerald, R. “Structural Mechanics,” SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection of Engineering, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA (2008).

    Google Scholar 

  5. J.A. Purkiss, Fire Safety Engineering Design of Structures, Butterworth-Heinemann, New York, NY (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Y. Wang, I. Burgess, F. Wald, M. Gillie, Performance-Based Fire Engineering of Structures, Spon Press (2012).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  7. Scott et al., 2002 Prevention of Progressive Collapse, Multihazard Mitigation Council Of the National Institute of Building Sciences, Washington, D.C., July.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The overall structure and format of this chapter of the SFPE Handbook has been based on the previous (4/e) version, which was authored by Robert W. Fitzgerald. The significant contribution of Prof. Fitzgerald to the development of this handbook must therefore be gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, UK, The King’s Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh, UK, EH93JL

    Luke A. Bisby

Authors
  1. Luke A. Bisby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Aon Fire Protection Engineering, Greenbelt, MD, USA

    Morgan J. Hurley P.E., FSFPE (Editor-in-Chief) (Editor-in-Chief)

  2. Hughes Associates, Baltimore, USA

    Daniel Gottuk Ph.D., P.E.

  3. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, USA

    John R. Hall Jr. Ph.D.

  4. Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

    Kazunori Harada Dr. Eng.

  5. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, USA

    Erica Kuligowski Ph.D.

  6. Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, USA

    Milosh Puchovsky P.E., FSFPE

  7. The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia

    José Torero Ph.D.

  8. The Fire Safety Institute, Quincy, USA

    John M. Watts Jr. Ph.D., FSFPE

  9. FM Global, Johnston, USA

    Christopher Wieczorek Ph.D.

Nomenclature

A

Area (nm2)

A k

Load or load effect resulting from an extraordinary event (e.g. fire)

C 1

Integration constant

C 2

Integration constant

c

Distance from the extreme compression fiber to the neutral axis of bending (mm)

D

Dead load

E

Earthquake load

E

Load effect, or modulus of elasticity (Young’s modulus) (GPa)

F

Force (kN)

f c ’

Compressive strength of concrete (MPa)

I

Moment of inertia (mm4)

L

Live load

L

Length (mm)

M

Moment (kN∙m)

n

0, 1, 2…

O

Center of curvature

P

Load (kN)

R

Member resistance, or reaction force (kN)

r

Radius of gyration (mm)

S

Snow load

V

Shear force (kN)

W

Wind load

x

Coordinate parallel to the axis of the structural element (mm)

y

Coordinate normal to the axis of the structural element (mm), or lateral deflection (mm)

Z

Difference between resistance and load demand

α

Load factor

α T

Coefficient of thermal expansion (K−1)

β

Safety index

ε

Strain (no units)

ε cc

Compressive failure strain of concrete (no units)

ε y

Yield strain (no units)

ΔL

Change in length (mm)

ΔT

Change in temperature (K)

δ

Deformation (mm)

σ

Stress (MPa)

σ y

Yield stress (MPa)

ϕ

Resistance factor

π

Pi

θ

Subscript denoting elevated temperature

ω

Uniformly distributed loading (kN/m)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Society of Fire Protection Engineers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bisby, L.A. (2016). Structural Mechanics. In: Hurley, M.J., et al. SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2565-0_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2565-0_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-2564-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-2565-0

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation