A Simplified Approach for Fire Resistance Design of High Strength Q460 Steel Beams Subjected to Non-uniform Temperature Distribution

Presented in this paper is an analytical investigation on fire resistance of high strength Q460 steel beam subjected to non-uniform temperature distribution. Based on the critical bending moment associated with overall flexural stability and results obtained from the previous experimental investigation on the mechanical properties of Q460 steel at elevated temperature, an equivalent stiffness method is established to evaluate the fire resistance of the beam with the consideration of the influence of temperature gradient across the section of the beam. Lateral torsional buckling resistance, critical temperature and overall stability coefficient are obtained for flexure of high strength Q460 steel beams at elevated temperature. A 3-D nonlinear finite element model, which is capable of accounting for temperature gradient and predicting critical bending moment of Q460 steel beam at elevated temperature, is developed. Results from the finite element simulations are compared with the results determined by the proposed equivalent stiffness method and there is a good agreement between the results of the two methods with the maximum difference of 6%. Using the equivalent stiffness method, parametric studies were carried out to investigate effects of steel grade and temperature distribution pattern on fire resistance of high strength Q460 steel beams. Accordingly, a simplified design approach was proposed to predict the critical temperature and overall stability coefficient of Q460 steel beams subjected to non-uniform temperature distribution. The simplified approach is applicable to high strength Q460 steel beams with cross section dimensions ranging from 175 mm to 350 mm and 250 mm to 500 mm for flange width and section height, respectively.