A numerical investigation on the fire response of a steel girder bridge

The response of bridges subject to fire is an under researched topic despite the number of bridge failures caused by fire. Since available data shows that steel girder bridges are especially vulnerable to fire, this paper delves into their fire response by analyzing with a 3D numerical model the res...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Paya-Zaforteza, I., Garlock, Maria E.M.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2012
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)
Repositorio:RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:riunet.upv.es:10251/47010
Acceso en línea:https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/47010
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Bridge
Carbon steel
Fire
Performance-based approach
Stainless steel
3D numerical model
Axial restraints
Bridge failures
Bridge girder
Corrosive environment
Eurocodes
Fire loads
Fire risks
Hydrocarbon fire
Live loads
Numerical investigations
Parametric study
Real fire
Span length
Stainless steel grades
Steel girder bridge
Structural steels
Bridges
Building materials
Numerical models
Plate girder bridges
Structural dynamics
Three dimensional
Fires
INGENIERIA CARTOGRAFICA, GEODESIA Y FOTOGRAMETRIA
PROYECTOS DE INGENIERIA
INGENIERIA DE LA CONSTRUCCION
Descripción
Sumario:The response of bridges subject to fire is an under researched topic despite the number of bridge failures caused by fire. Since available data shows that steel girder bridges are especially vulnerable to fire, this paper delves into their fire response by analyzing with a 3D numerical model the response of a typical bridge of 12.20 m span length. A parametric study is performed considering: (1) two possibilities for the axial restraint of the bridge deck, (2) four types of structural steel for the girders (carbon steel and stainless steel grades 1.4301, 1.4401, and 1.4462), (3) three different constitutive models for carbon steel, (4) four live loads, and (5) two alternative fire loads (the hydrocarbon fire defined by Eurocode 1 and a fire corresponding to a real fire event). Results show that restraint to deck expansion coming from an adjacent span or abutment should be considered in the numerical model. In addition, times to collapse are very small when the bridge girders are built with carbon steel (between 8.5 and 18 min) but they can almost double if stainless steel is used for the girders. Therefore, stainless steel is a material to consider for steel girder bridges in a high fire risk situation, especially if the bridge is located in a corrosive environment and its aesthetics deserves special attention. The methodology developed in this paper and the results obtained are useful for researchers and practitioners interested in developing and applying a performance-based approach for the design of bridges against fire. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.