Numerical Modelling of the Influence of Joint Typologies on the 3D Behaviour of a Steel Sub-Frame Under a Natural Fire

In order to address the complex loading condition of steel joints in fire, and based on the experimental fire tests on steel frames with different joint typologies, performed at the University of Coimbra (Santiago et al. 2008), a detailed three-dimensional model was developed and calibrated to simulate the behaviour of welded and bolted end plate beam-to-column joints. The structural frame is modeled combining 3D shell, solid and joint elements, thereby taking into account the effect of the local failure modes, and the realistic behaviour of the frame exposed to a natural fire. The numerical model accounts for the initial geometrical imperfections, non-linear temperature gradient, geometrical and material nonlinearity and temperature dependent material properties. The results show the performance of each individual structural joint component under heating and cooling conditions and identify the main dependencies of the geometrical and mechanical variables of the components on the joint behaviour. The global behaviour of the frame and the joint failure modes are compared and discussed with the experimental observations.