Post-Fire Residual Strength of Cold-Formed Steel Columns Subjected to Realistic Temperature Distribution

International Journal of Civil Engineering

© 2025 by SSRG - IJCE Journal

Volume 12 Issue 12

Year of Publication : 2025

Authors : Rakshith B. D, Punitha kumar A

10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V12I12P111

How to Cite?

Rakshith B. D, Punitha kumar A, "Post-Fire Residual Strength of Cold-Formed Steel Columns Subjected to Realistic Temperature Distribution," SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 12,  no. 12, pp. 110-129, 2025. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V12I12P111

Abstract:

The present study assesses the residual capacity of a steel column after a fire. Altogether 101 numbers of experiments done by earlier studies were taken to validate the numerical model using Abaqus®. The main novelty of the present study includes the evaluation of practical temperature distribution along the length, taken from full-scale fire tests, and superimposing it on validated models to evaluate column capacities. Following validation, extensive parametric studies were conducted to evaluate the column capacity under axial load and uniaxial moment. Comparative analysis found that axially loaded columns subjected to realistic (parabolic) temperature distribution can sustain 40% more load than columns with uniform (idealized) temperature. This increase is 30% for columns with axial load and uniaxial moment. Post-fire column capacities were compared with the standard interaction equation from the European code by merely replacing the post-fire yield strength with the room temperature one. A comparative study of the European code and a parametric study reveal disproportional conservation. In the end, the modified European code model provides an accurate estimation with mild conservation, which can be used by the structural engineering community to assess the realistically heated column capacity.

Keywords:

Cold-formed steel column, Post-fire strength, realistic temperature distribution, Capacity prediction, Code comparison.

References:

[1] Yusuke Shintani et al., “Experimental Investigation of Burning Behavior of Automobiles,” 6th Asia-Oceania Symposium on Fire Science and Technology, Daegu, Korea, pp. 1-13, 2004.
[Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[2] B.R. Kirby, The Behaviour of a Multi-Storey Steel Framed Building Subjected to Fire Attack: Experimental Data, Swinden Technology Center World Beaters in Applied Steel Research, 1998. [Online]. Available:
https://www.steelconstruction.info/File:Behaviour_Multi_Storey_Steel_Framed_Building_Subject_to_Fire_Attack_-_Experimental_data.pdf
[3] EN 1993-1-1:2005, Eurocode 3: Design of Steel Structures - Part 1-1: General Rules and Rules of Buildings, 2005. [Online]. Available: https://www.phd.eng.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/en.1993.1.1.2005.pdf
[4] Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (ANSI/AISC 360-22), American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), 2022. [online]. Available: https://www.aisc.org/Specification-for-Structural-Steel-Buildings-ANSIAISC-360-22-Download
[5] AS4100:2020, Steel Structures, Standards Catalogue, Standards Australia, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.standards.org.au/standards-catalogue/standard-details?designation=as-4100-2020
[6] The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025, Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2025
[7] Wei Ji et al., “Experimental and Numerical Study on Fire-Induced Collapse of Double-Span Steel Portal Frames,” Fire Safety Journal, vol. 143, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[8] Weiyong Wang, and Tianzi Liu, “Experimental and Numerical Study on Post-Fire Behavior of High-Strength Q460 Steel Columns,” Advances in Structural Engineering, vol. 19, no. 12, pp. 1873-1888, 2016.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[9] ISO 834-1:1999, Fire-Resistance Tests-Elements of Building Construction, Part 1-General Requirements, International Organization of Standards, 1999. [Online]. Available: https://www.iso.org/standard/2576.html
[10] Shaohua Han, Yu Chen, and Wentao Xie, “Behavior of Square Hollow Steel Tubular (SHST) Stub Columns after Elevated Temperature,” Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 136, pp. 177-192, 2017.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[11] Riu Ma, Hongbo Liu, and Zhihua Chen, “Calculation Method for the Residual Stability Bearing Capacity Under Axial Compression of Steel Tube Members Exposed to a High Tempareature,” Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 132, pp. 475-493, 2018. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[12] An He et al., “Flexural Buckling Behavior and Residual Strengths of Stainless Steel CHS Columns after Exposure to Fire,” Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 152, pp. 1-40, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[13] An He, Yating Liang, and Ou Zhao, “Experimental and Numerical Studies of Austenitic Stainless Steel CHS Stub Columns after Exposed to Elevated Temperatures,” Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 154, pp. 293-305, 2019.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[14] Kang He, Yu Chen, and Shaohua Han, “Experimental Investigation of Square Stainless Steel Tubular Stub Columns after Elevated Temperatures,” Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 159, pp. 397-414, 2019.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[15] Guo-Qiang Li et al., “Investigation on Postfire Residual Capacity of High-Strength Steel Columns with Axial Restraints,” Journal of Structural Engineering, vol. 146, no. 9, 2020.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[16] Yukai Zhong et al., “Post-Fire Behaviour and Residual Resistances of S700 High Strength Steel Tubular Section Stub Column Under Combined Loading,” Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 169, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[17] Yukai Zhong, Kang Hai Tan, and Ou Zhao, “Experimental and Numerical Investigation of S700 High Strength Steel Tubular Section Stub Columns after Exposure to Elevated Temperatures,” Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 163, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[18] Andi Su et al., “Post-Fire Behavior and Resistance of S690 High Steel Welded I-Section Stub Columns,” Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 169, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[19] Andi Su et al., “Experimental and Numerical Investigation into S960 Ultra-High Strength Steel Welded I-Section Stub Columns after Exposure to Elevated Temperatures,” Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 183, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[20] Yukai Zhong, Ou Zhao, and Leroy Gardner, “Experimental and Numerical Investigation of S700 High Strength Steel CHS Beam-Columns After Exposure to Fire,” Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 175, pp. 1-42, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[21] Yukai Zhong, and Ou Zhao, “Experimental and Numerical Studies on Post-Fire Behavior of S700 High Strength Steel Circular Hollow Sections Under Combined Compression and Bending,” Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 181, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[22] Yukai Zhong et al., “Structural Response and Residual Capacity of S700 High-Strength Steel CHS Columns after Exposure to Elevated Temperatures,” Journal of Structural Engineering, vol. 148, no. 6, 2022.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[23] Yukai Zhong, Andi Su, and Ou Zhao, “Post-Fire Local Buckling Behavior of Cold-Formed S700 High Strength Steel Circular Hollow Sections Under Axial Compression: Experiments, Modeling and Design,” Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 184, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[24] Wenkang Zuo, Man-Tai Chen, and Ben Young, “Structural Behavior of Cold-Formed Steel Elliptical Hollow Section Stub Columns after Exposure to ISO-834 Fire Curve,” Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 197, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[25] Wenkang Zuo, Man-Tai Chen, and Ben Young, “Post-Fire Behavior of Cold-Formed Steel Semi-Oval Hollow Stub Columns,” Journal of Structural Engineering, vol. 150, no. 10, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[26] Weiyong Wang et al., “Experimental and Numerical Study on the Behavior of High Strength Q960 Steel Columns after Fire Exposure,” Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 198, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[27] Jiahao Zhang, Hua Yang, and Andi Su, “Post-Fire Behavior and Resistance of S890 Ultra-High Strength Steel Circular Hollow Section Beam-Columns,” Thin-Walled Structures, vol. 204, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[28] Kang-Hai Tan et al., “Structural Response of Restrained Steel Columns at Elevated Temperatures. Part-1: Experiments,” Engineering Structures, vol. 29, no. 8, pp. 1641-1652, 2007.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[29] Kai Ye, and Fuminobu Ozaki, “Post-Fire Mechanical Properties and Buckling Strength of Cold-Formed Steel Hollow Section Columns,” Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 184, 2021.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[30] Karlsson Hibbitt, and Inc Sorensen, “ABAQUS/Standard User’s Manual Volumes I-III and ABAQUS CAE Manual,” SIMULIA, Providence, RI, USA, 2014.
[Google Scholar]
[31] Lin-Xin Song et al., “Experimental Study on the Effects of Whole Heating Cycle on Post-Fire Behavior of Restrained High Strength Structural Steel Columns,” Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 70, 2023.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[32] Jiahao Zhang, Andi Su, and Ke Jiang, “Post-Fire Behavior and Residual Resistance of S890 Ultra-High Strength Steel Circular Hollow Sections Under Combined Compression and Bending,” Engineering Structures, vol. 316, 2024.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[33] Jia-Lin Ma, Tak-Ming Chan, and Ben Young, “Material Properties and Residual Stresses of Cold-Formed High-Strength-Steel Circular Hollow Sections,” Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 109, pp. 152-165, 2015.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[34] BS EN 10219-2:2006, Cold Formed Welded Structural Hollow Sections of Non-Alloy and Fine Grain Steels-Part-2: Tolerances, Dimensions and Sectional Properties, British Standards Institution, 2006. [Online]. Available: https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/cold-formed-welded-structural-hollow-sections-of-non-alloy-and-fine-grain-steels-tolerances-dimensions-and-sectional-properties
[35] Tekcham Gishan Singh, and Konjengbam Darunkumar Singh, “Post-Fire Mechanical Properties of Yst-310 Cold-Formed Steel Tubular Sections,” Journal of Constructional Steel Research, vol. 153, pp. 654-666, 2019.
[CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [Publisher Link]
[36] EN 10219-1: 2006, Cold Formed Welded Structural Hollow Sections of Non-Alloy and Fine Grain Steels-Part-1: Technical Delivery Conditions, Brussels: European Committee for Standardization; 2006. [Online]. Available: https://www.botopsteelpipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/EN-10219-1-2006.pdf