Design for accidental actions: fire, seismic and robustness

Recommended Prerequisites

The pre-requisites of this course are those corresponding to the application for the MSc course CMM.

Teaching Methods

The teaching methods of lectures aim at the global learning of the discipline.

 The lectures are supported in the literature and presentations, with the support of media. There is an opportunity to discuss the concepts and more difficult issues. Occasionally students are invited to attend lectures by visiting specialists. Tutorial lessons (22.5 hours) will be to answer questions and to help in the final project.

Learning Outcomes

The aim of this course is to give students an understanding of the design methods of structures at accidental situations, fire and explosion.

The course is focused on all design methods involved in fire design: prediction of fire scenario, evaluation of fire load, calculation of gas temperatures in the fire compartment and structural analysis. Special attention is paid to fire modeling when several design models is presented including nominal temperature curves, simple models and advanced models. Methods for prediction of temperature of the structural elements and design models for steel, concrete, steel concrete composite, timber and aluminum structural elements loaded by tension, compression and bending moment are presented. Attention is paid to protection of steel and timber structures to fire; various methods of protection are described.

Smaller part of the course is focused on explosions. Types of explosions are described together with design models. Basic principles of structural analysis are presented. Design methods are explained with focus to increase robustness of the structure.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Introduction to fire safety

2. Fire load and models of fire

Fire load density, effect of active fire measures, rate of heat release, fire scenarios. Simple models, nominal and parametric fire curves. Zone models, CFD models. Localized fires.

3. Structural analysis at fire

4. Fire resistance of steel structures

Temperature of unprotected and protected steel elements at fire. Material properties of steel at high temperatures. Resistance of element loaded in tension, compression, bending, lateral torsional stability of beams, joints.

5. Fire resistance of concrete structures, steel concrete composite structures, timber structures and

    aluminum structures

6. Fire tests

7. Loading and structural analysis at explosion

Types of explosion, explosion in enclosed open and space, interaction with buildings, structural analysis at explosion. Mechanical behaviour of material at dynamic load. Damage to structures, protection of structures to explosion, reconstruction

8. Robustness

Ductility. Design for robustness.

Assessment Methods

Continuous
Written work with oral presentation: 50.0%
Exam: 50.0%

Final
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

Jean-Marc Franssen J.M., Vila Real P., Fire Design of Steel Structures, ECCS, Publication 302, ISBN 978-92-9147-099-0.

Bibliografia adicional:

Buchanan A. H., Structural Design for Fire Safety, John Wiley and Sons, Chichester 2003.

ASCE Manual, Performance-Based Design of Structural Steel for Fire Conditions, American Society of Civil Engineers, 2009

Lennon T., Moore D.B., Wang Y.C., Bailey G.G., Designer’s Guide to EN 1991-1-2, EN 1992-1-2, EN 1993-1-2 and EN 1994-1-2, Thomas Telford, 2006.