Experimental and numerical analysis of structural members subjected to bending in fire

Abstract

Through the Thematic Project FAPESP 2006/06742-5 "Safety of Structures in Fire" was obtained the first horizontal furnace in Brazil capable of testing beams and slabs at elevated temperatures, which also considers the application of mechanical load. The following project aims to expand the study structure's behavior under fire conditions through numerical and experimental analyses, using the furnace previously mentioned. With this purpose, will be studied the fire resistance of Glued Laminated Timber (glulam) beams and Partially Encased Steel and Concrete Composite beams in fire. Regarding the glulam elements, the combinations of wood species, adhesive and preservative treatments used in the brazillian industry will be studied. About the partially encased composite beams, the research mainly aims at determining the influence of the concrete encasement in the fire resistance of the beam, also considering situations besides the simply supported beams subjected to ISO standard fire. The accomplishment of this project will result in increasing the experience of the researchers about the analysis of structures in fire and will be part of PhD researches of the Department of Structural Engineering, EESC / USP. Regarding the technical application, the project aims at the development and verification of normative codes in the studied areas. (AU)