Numerical analysis of stainless steel beam-columns in case of fire

This paper presents an evaluation of the accuracy and safety of the design rules from Eurocode 3, for the fire resistance of stainless steel beam-columns, with and without lateral-torsional buckling. These evaluations are carried out performing an extensive numerical parametric study on beam-columns with equivalent welded H-cross-sections. In this study the influences of the residual stresses, the cross-sectional slenderness, the shape of the bending moment diagrams and the stainless steel grade are considered.New proposals for the design equations of stainless steel beam-columns in case of fire are presented. These proposals revealed to be safer than the design equations of Eurocode 3 when compared with numerical results.Additionally, the lateral-torsional buckling of stainless steel beams subjected to combined end moments and transverse loads in case of fire is also studied.

► Accuracy of EC3 design rules for stainless steel beam-columns fire resistance.
► Numerical parametric study on members with and without lateral-torsional buckling.
► Influences of several parameters on the member ultimate load bearing capacity.
► New design equations proposals for stainless steel beam-columns in case of fire.