Abstract

Obtaining internal load capacity, in reinforced concrete sections, at ambient temperature, under biaxial bending, is one of the most common tasks done by structural engineers, but not so common when the member is in fire situation.

The intention of this paper is to show that is possible to correlate the ultimate limit state (ULS), in fire situation, with ULS at ambient temperature, for square cross sections under fire from all faces.

To reach the purpose and give support to the numerical analysis of this article, a computer program, in Delphi language, called COL FIRE, is being developed by the authors.

Keywords:
fire; columns; ultimate limit state; ULS; interaction diagram

Resumo

A obtenção dos esforços internos resistentes, em seções de concreto armado, à temperatura ambiente, sob flexão composta oblíqua, é uma das tarefas mais comuns realizadas por engenheiros de estruturas, mas não tão comum quando o elemento está submetido a ação de incêndio.

O objetivo deste artigo é ilustrar que é possível correlacionar o estado-limite último (ELU), em situação de incêndio, ao ELU à temperatura ambiente, para seções quadradas sob incêndio em todas as faces.

Para atingir o propósito e dar suporte à análise numérica deste artigo, um programa de computador, em linguagem Delphi, chamado COL FIRE, está em desenvolvido pelos autores.

Palavras-chave:
incêndio; pilares; estado-limite último; ELU; diagrama de interação

1. Introduction

The achievement of ultimate limit state (ULS), in fire conditions, for uniaxial bending (UB), and for biaxial bending (BB), was already submitted by some authors such as, for instance, EL-FITIANY S.F; YOUSSEF M.A. [³[3] EL-FITIANY, S.F.; YOUSSEF, M.A. Interaction diagrams for fire-exposed reinforced concrete sections. Journal: Engineering Structures, v. 70, p. 246-259, July 2014.]), MOREIRA A. M. M. M. [⁸[8] MOREIRA, A. M. M. M. Verificação de seções retangulares de concreto armado submetidas à flexão oblíqua composta em situação de incêndio. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 2013. ], LAW A.; GILLIE M. [⁷[7] LAW, A.; GILLIE, M. Interaction Diagrams for Ambient and Heated Concrete Sections. Journal: Engineering Structures, v. 32, n. 6, p. 1641-1649, 2010] and RODRIGUEZ J.; ARISTIZABAL-OCHOA J. D. [⁹[9] RODRIGUEZ, J.; ARISTIZABAL-OCHOA, J. D. Biaxial Interaction Diagrams for Short RC Columns of Any Cross Section. Journal of Structural Engineering, v. 125, n. 6, p. 672-683, June 1999.]. Such analysis, however, is relatively complex and impossible to be achieved without a specific fire analysis computer program.

There are yet simplified calculation methods, such as, for instance, 500°C Isotherm Method, shown in EN 1992-1-2 [⁴[4] EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION. Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures - part 1.2 General rules - structural fire design. EN 1992-1-2. Brussels: CEN, 2004.], however, such methods also rely on the thermal analysis, which many times is not available to the structure engineers in the calculation offices.

In all publications researched, national or international, none was found which correlates results calculated to the fire conditions to the ones found at ambient temperature. The authors purpose is showing that it is possible to develop a simplified method to assess the ultimate limit state (ULS) in fire conditions, without any thermal analysis or extremely sophisticated computer code, based only on the ultimate limit state (ULS), achieved at ambient temperature, which assessment has already been widespread in the technical means.

The choice for small dimension square sections has as main purpose being the basis to assess columns found in industries, warehouses and small household buildings. It can also be understood as starting point for this research progress for column sections with different shapes and dimensions to be performed in upcoming works.

2. Fire analysis with advanced calculation methods

Advanced calculation methods shall provide a realistic analysis of structures exposed to fire. They shall be based on fundamental physical behaviour leading to a reliable approximation of the expected behaviour of the relevant structural component under fire conditions.

Advanced calculation methods should include calculation models for the determination of:

Advanced calculation methods may be used in association with any heating curve provided that the material properties are known for the relevant temperature range and the relevant rate of heating.

Advanced calculation methods may be used with any type of cross section.

2.1 The temperature field

In an analysis of a plane cross section, in any analysis which involves fire situation, is to establish the fire curve (time-temperature) which the structural member will be submitted and which are the faces of the cross section that will be submitted to fire situation.

It is used, for this proposal, the ISO - 834 curve, also known as standard temperature-time curve.

With the time-temperature curve established and all (four) faces under fire situation, it is determined the temperature '(i' of each point of the cross section, in each instant of time 't' desired. For this, it is necessary to resort to a numerical analysis, based on the finite element method applied to heat transfer. In this paper, this stage counts on developed by swede Dr. Yngve. Anderberg [⁵[5] FIRE SAFETY DESIGN (FSD). TCD 5.0 User's manual. Lund: Fire Safety Design AB, 2007]. An example of the results can be visualized in Figure 1.

The SuperTempcalc is a computer program of thermal analysis, bi-dimensional, non- linear, in transient regimes, that incorporates material thermal properties, which are functions of temperature in differential equations of heat transfer. The radiation and convection heat in the boundary of the element can be modeled as function of the time. The computer program was certified with innumerous experimental results since 1985 and its reliability is largely known, being used to development of the European standard [⁴[4] EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION. Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures - part 1.2 General rules - structural fire design. EN 1992-1-2. Brussels: CEN, 2004.].

The field of temperatures is the name given to the set of distinct values of temperatures associated to each point of the cross section in a certain instant of time 't'.

Usually, in reinforced concrete structures, to the analysis of heat transfer using finite element method, it is assumed that the temperature of each reinforcing bar '(_bi ' is the same of the temperature '( _i' obtained at the position of its geometrical center in the cross section.

2.2 Concrete properties under fire situation

2.2.1 Compressive strength of concrete at elevated temperature (

According to EN 1992-1-2 [⁴[4] EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION. Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures - part 1.2 General rules - structural fire design. EN 1992-1-2. Brussels: CEN, 2004.], the compressive strength of concrete decreases with elevated temperatures, as showed in Figure 2, and may be obtained by Equation 1 .

In Equation 1,

f_ck characteristic value of compressive strength of concrete at room temperature k_c,θ reduction factor for the compressive strength of concrete, taken from Table 1

The capacity of concrete can be established, in members under fire situation, using compressive strength of concrete at temperature θ.

2.2.2 Stress-strain relationships of concrete under compression

The strength and deformation properties of uniaxially stressed concrete at elevated temperatures shall be obtained from the stress-strain relationships as presented in Figure 3.

The stress-strain relationships given in Figure 3 are defined by three parameters:

- The compressive strength f_c,(;

- The strain (_c1,( corresponding to f_c,(;

- The strain (_cu1,( corresponding to the ultimate strain of the concrete;

Values for each of these parameters are given in Table 2 as a function of concrete temperatures. For intermediate values of the temperature, linear interpolation may be used.

The parameters specified in Table 2 may be used for normal weight concrete with siliceous or calcareous (containing at least 80% calcareous aggregate by weight) aggregates.

As specified in EN 1992-1-2 [⁴[4] EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION. Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures - part 1.2 General rules - structural fire design. EN 1992-1-2. Brussels: CEN, 2004.], the ascending branch may be described by Equation 2

The descending branch can be described using same equation of ascending branch or, optionally, using a straight line, as specified in the EN 1992-1-2 [⁴[4] EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION. Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures - part 1.2 General rules - structural fire design. EN 1992-1-2. Brussels: CEN, 2004.], by using equations 3 and 4.

According to EN 1992-1-2 [⁴[4] EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION. Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures - part 1.2 General rules - structural fire design. EN 1992-1-2. Brussels: CEN, 2004.], possible strength gain of concrete in the cooling phase should not be taken into account.

2.3 Reinforced steel properties under fire situation

2.3.1 Strength of reinforced steel at elevated temperature (

According to EN 1992-1-2 [⁴[4] EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION. Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures - part 1.2 General rules - structural fire design. EN 1992-1-2. Brussels: CEN, 2004.], the strength of reinforcing steel decreases with elevated temperatures, as showed in Figure 4, and may be obtained by Equation 5.

In the Equation 5,

f_ykcharacteristic strength of reinforcing steel at room temperature

k_s,θ reduction factor for the strength of reinforcing steel, taken from Table 3.

― continuous line: k_s,θ applicable when ε_si ≥ 2%, usually tension reinforcement of beams, slabs or rods;

― dashed line: k_s,θ applicable when ε_si < 2%, usually compressive reinforcement of columns, beams or slabs.

2.3.2 Modulus of elasticity at elevated temperature (

According to EN 1992-1-2 [⁴[4] EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION. Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures - part 1.2 General rules - structural fire design. EN 1992-1-2. Brussels: CEN, 2004.], the modulus of elasticity of reinforcing steel decreases with elevated temperatures, as showed in Figure 5, and may be obtained by Equation 6.

In the Equation 6,

E_s modulus of elasticity of reinforcing steel at room ambient,

k_sE,θ reduction factor for the modulus of elasticity of reinforcing steel, taken from Table 4.

2.3.3 Stress-Strain relationships at elevated temperature θ

The properties of stress-strain relationships of reinforcing steel at elevated temperature should be obtained by stress-strain relationships given in Figure 6.

The stress-strain relationships given in Figure 6 are defined by four parameters:

- The strain (_sp,( corresponding to the value of stress f_sp,( (proportional limit);

- The strain (_sy,( corresponding to the value of stress f_sy,( (yield strength);

- The strain (_st,( corresponding to the value of stress f_sy,( (end of plastic landing);

- The strain (_su,( corresponding to the ultimate strain of reinforcing steel;

As exposed in EN 1992-1-2 [4], the four different branches of the stress-strain relationships can be described by Equations 7 to 10.

In the Equation 8, the values of the functions a, b e c are given by equations 11 to 13.

2.4 The internal loads

The trio of internal loads (N, M_x, M_y) is obtained by integration of stress values over the cross section, recollecting an observation that, wisely, the stresses are functions of the strains which, in turn, are functions of the temperatures which, again, are functions of time 't'.

2.5 The universe of possible results - Interaction surface

To determine the trio of internal loads (N, M_x, M_y) of a cross section, in a specific time 't' of fire situation, is necessary to impose three parameters for the cross section: the inclination of neutral axis (α), the curvature of the cross section (() and the strain of the geometrical center ((_cg ), according to illustrated in Figure 7.

It is worthwhile to note that the imposition that any three values (α, (, (cg ) corresponds to a unique and exclusive trio of internal loads (N, M_x e M_y). On the other hand, it is practically impossible to determine values of curvature and strain of geometrical center that lead to ultimate limit state (ULS).

In the fire analysis, all values are variables, functions of temperature, turning impossible to determine the exact values. The proposal, in this case, is to make a variation of the mentioned parameters until sufficient large values, this way, the ultimate limit state will appear naturally.

- Inclination of neutral axis ((): varies from 0 to 360º;

- Cross Section curvature ((): 0 ≤ ( ≤ (_máx

- Strain of the geometric center ((_cg): (_cg,mín ≤ (_cg ≤ (_cg,máx

The universe of possible results can be illustrated in Figure 8.

2.6 Axial force limits

For a rectangular reinforced concrete cross section, the axial load capacities (N_Rd) and, obviously, the axial internal load (N_Sd) that can be applied, at room temperature, are in the range determined by Equations 17 and 18.

In Equation 17,

A_s total area of reinforced steel in the cross section

f_yd design strength of the steel reinforcement, at room temperature

In Equation 18,

A_c concrete area in the cross section

f_cd design concrete compressive strength, at room temperature

(_s,(c2 compressive stress of reinforced steel, corresponding to the compressive strain (_c1 of concrete, at room temperature

The insertion of these two values in the interaction surface represents two restraining planes, illustrated in Figure 9.

In usual designs of structures, the axial internal load (N_Sd) is always a ratio of axial load capacity (N_Rd), because if N_Sd was numerically equal to N_Rd, the cross section would be at the limit of capacity, in a pure compression, without the possibility of simultaneously bending moments.

2.7 The interaction diagram for a specific axial internal load

Determinado o universo de possibilidades, conforme descrito no item anterior, para a força normal de interesse, passa-se um plano horizontal, destacando os valores extremos nesse plano, valores que correspondem exatamente ao estado-limite último (ELU) em incêndio, naquele instante de tempo considerado, conforme exibido na Figure 10.

Taking as numerical example a 30x30 cm cross section, compressive strength of concrete f_ck= 30 MPa, 8 reinforcing bars of((10 mm of CA-50, axial internal load N_Sd = 761,22 kN (40% of N_Rd.,máx), the computer program developed by authors provides the curves at the ultimate limit state illustrated in Figure 11.

Observing the interaction diagrams at ultimate limit states in fire analysis, it is clearly noticed that, with the progress of fire situation, the internal load capacity reduction respects some proportionality.

3. Results and discussions

In this item the results will be added as figures and tables. The results will be discussed in order to ground the considerations and conclusions the article provides.

3.1 Fire analysis correlation with the ambient temperature

It is noted, by the previous item description, that the fire conditions analysis is extremely demanding, and it is practically impossible to achieve it without, at least, two computer programs duly prepared to the numerical analysis: SuperTempcalc [⁵[5] FIRE SAFETY DESIGN (FSD). TCD 5.0 User's manual. Lund: Fire Safety Design AB, 2007] (for heat transfer) and the program developed by the authors to this article (for the internal loads).

In an attempt to make the approach simpler, it has been decided to propose a correlation between the ultimate limit state under fire situation with the ultimate limit state analysis performed at ambient temperature, as provided by standard ABNT NBR 6118:2014, a widely known process by the structure engineers.

Considering as numeric example the 30x30 cm cross section, the same previously used, as the interaction diagram is inserted to the last limit state at ambient temperature over the fire analysis interaction diagrams, what happens in Figure 12 is seen.

It is possible to note that the ultimate limit state curve at ambient temperature, despite being assessed regardless of the fire analysis, assures the cross section some load capacity, concerning the requesting internal loads, which, in the instance provided, corresponds visually to approximately 60 minutes of fire resistance. It is obvious that this is not a fixed value to cross-sections, as such time varies in cross section geometry, reinforcement quantity and axial load value functions.

The fact that the cross section, designed to the ultimate limit state at room temperature, assures a specific resistant fire time is a cross section inherent property, even if the structure engineer did not intend to promote such property.

The curve associated at ambient temperature, however, keeps approximately the same curve geometric shape for fire conditions. Such correspondence suggested to the authors that it would be possible to develop an approximate method that can correlate any fire ultimate limit state, at any time, with the ultimate state limit achieved at ambient temperature, using for that matter only one reducing factor which is simply a scale reduction.

3.2 Cross-sections studied

As mentioned in the article´s introduction, the analysis purpose is being the basis for small dimension columns, which can be used in industries, warehouses and small size buildings.

In order to create cross sections, some parameters were used:

According to Table 5, it can be noticed that such study covers 14 different cross sections. All cross sections have been subjected to:

The conclusion is, thus, that each cross-section will be subjected to 11 ordinary forces and 7 different fire times, totaling 77 study cases by cross-section, totaling 1078 analysis for this article

3.3 Reducer factor 'fr' to the ultimate limit state at ambient temperature

As above mentioned, a reducer factor 'f_r ' is created, which enables a fire conditions analysis, from, only, the interaction diagram of the ultimate limit state at ambient temperature, without thermal analysis need.

After processing 1078 cases, for each value three cases, the corresponding reducer factors 'f_r ' were registered, concerning the ultimate limit state at ambient temperature. After the registrations, regressions were performed, using the program LabFit [¹¹[11] SILVA, W.P.; SILVA, C.M.D.P.S. LAB Fit Curve Fitting Software (Nonlinear Regression and Treatment of Data Program) v 7.2.49 (1999-2016).], separating the cross section by dimensions, which results are presented in Table 6.

Only the fire time 't'' was chosen, as independent variable.

The statistic measure called 'qui-square reduced' is a regression quality indicative performed which, as it is closer to zero, it proves the presented equation reliability.

It was noticed that, for axial load ratios r_N = N Rd N Rd,máx over 0.7, the regression turned into poor quality, not leading to good results, thus it was chosen, at this time, to exclude such data, limiting the method presented herein.

Taking as example the cross sections of 20x20 cm dimensions, the graph shown in Figure 13 shows the function 'f_r ' against the values achieved by the program developed by the authors.

3.4 Reducer factor 'f _r ' application example

At first, the ultimate limit state at room temperature analysis is performed, as provided by standard ABNT NBR 6118:2014, and to achieve the fire ultimate limit state, at a specific fire resistance time ´t´, the reducer factor 'f_r ' is applied to the values found. The procedure´s advantage is preventing any fire analysis and achieving approximate results.

It is worth noting that, at ambient temperature, according to standard ABNT NBR 6118:2014, the concrete tension distribution is performed as per the parabola-rectangle diagram, with peak stress equals to 0.85 f_cd, however, as alternative, if the uniform tension block is used, with neutral axis position 80% depth, the tension must be taken as 0.765 f_cd, as the section width, measured in parallel to the neutral line, decreases from this one to the compressed edge.

Taking as numeric example a 30x30 cm section, characteristic resistance to concrete compression f_ck = 30 Mpa, with 8 reinforcing bars of ((10mm of CA-50, and the method proposed in this article is applied to an axial load N_Sd = 761.22 kN (40% of N_Rd.,max).

In this case, to achieve the fire conditions ultimate limit state, for a fire exposure time of 90 min, in the four cross section faces, it is enough to apply the reducer factor to the ultimate limit state achieved at ambient temperature, according to standard ABNT NBR 6118:2014. The results are found in Table 7.

f_r = f_r = 4.053 - 0.736 ln 90 = 0.74

The corresponding interaction diagram to fire ultimate limit state, for a fire resistance time (FRT) of 90 minutes, achieved from the diagram at ambient temperature, with reducer factor application, was compared to the corresponding to fire analysis, using the advanced calculation methods, according to Figure 14.

Note, in Figure 14, that the fire ultimate limit state curve, achieved by the simplified method proposed herein, with the reducer factor application, the curve achieved remains internal as the fire analysis is performed with the advanced calculation method, by means of the program developed by the authors, considering the several variables involved.

4. Conclusions

It was proposed, in this article, a simplified procedure that enables inferring the internal load capacity for columns, concerning the requesting internal loads, for biaxial bending, in symmetric fire conditions, within specific dimension and load limits, from values found at ambient temperature.

For each fire resistance time, the internal load capacity reduction concerning the ambient temperature complies with some proportionality, what enabled creating a reduction factor 'f_r ' which, applied to the results found at ambient temperature, provides the fire conditions results.

The procedure proposed in this article enables, in simplified form, to assess the results related to the internal load capacity, in fire conditions, dismissing the thermal analysis.

The method proposed herein can only be applied within the limits presented in the article. Studies to expand such limits are in progress.

5. Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank CAPES - Higher Education Personnel Improvement Coordination, CNPq - National Scientific Research and Development Council, and FAPESP - Research Support Foundation of the State of São Paulo.

6. Bibliographic References

Publication Dates

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