Numerical analysis and structural fire design of protected SHS steel columns with thermally enhanced gypsum-based mortars

Fire protection materials should restrict the temperature increase in steel members to prevent premature steel damage and structural failure in case of fire. The design of fire protection materials must be then precise, efficient, and optimized to make steel structures more competitive in the construction sector, thus reducing the impact of one of the worst disadvantages of steel structures. Therefore, this paper presents a numerical investigation into the performance of gypsum-based mortars enhanced with silica micro and nanoparticles as passive fire protection materials to protect the steel columns against fire. Square hollow section (SHS) steel columns were considered for this investigation. Firstly, finite element models were developed and confronted with observations from experimental tests previously carried out by the authors. Secondly, a parametric study was undertaken to study the role of several parameters on the structural fire performance of such columns when exposed to the ISO 834 standard fire curve, including the fire protection thickness and type (composition), column slenderness and load level. Then numerical and analytical results from current design rules in Eurocodes were compared. And finally, changes to the steel temperature prediction method in current design standards were proposed based on the findings of this study. It was observed that the design predictions excessively underestimated the actual fire resistance of the protected SHS steel tubular columns, especially when fire protection mortars with silica micro and nanoparticles were used. The thermal properties of fire protection mortars as a function of temperature must be considered in the structural steel temperature prediction when subjected to fire conditions. It is then strongly recommended that a new revision should be done in the next generation of Eurocodes on this topic based on the proposed modifications or the presented findings.

Automated summary

This paper presents a numerical investigation on the performance of gypsum-based mortars enhanced with silica micro and nanoparticles as fire protection materials for steel columns. The study highlights the underestimation of current design rules on the fire resistance of protected steel columns and proposes revisions to the design standards.