Effects of axial and rotational restraints on concrete-filled tubular columns under fire

• A model to study the fire response of CFT columns within frames is presented.
• Parametric analyses to study the effects of axial and rotational restraints are performed.
• Provisions given by Eurocode 4 Part 1.2 for the fire effective length are assessed.
• A proposal for the fire effective length is given based on a developed simple model.
• Criteria established by the CEN-TC-250 Horizontal Group Fire are followed.

This paper presents a study of the effects of axial and rotational restraints on the fire response of concrete filled tubular (CFT) columns. The fiber model presented by the authors in a previous paper Ibañez et al. (2013) is employed to simulate the fire behavior of CFT columns within non-sway frames. Parametric studies are performed to analyze the influence of the different factors affecting the problem. Consequently, the opposite effects that the restraining frame has on the fire response of CFT columns are corroborated. On one hand, the restrained thermal elongation induces restraining forces which negatively affects the column. However, a beneficial effect is produced by the rotational restraint which positively modifies the boundary conditions of the heated column. Besides, another favorable effect comes from the gradual redistribution of the internal forces as the heated column loses its mechanical capacity, resulting in higher FRR. In a second step, current provisions given by Eurocode 4 Part 1.2 (EC4) are analyzed together with those given in the UK National Annex to Eurocode 4. Finally, these values are also used in the assessment of the simple calculation model presented by the authors in a previous paper Ibañez et al. (2015) and subsequently a proposal is made obtaining reasonably accurate but slightly safe results since the guidelines of CEN-Horizontal Group Fire were followed. As a result, the fire effective length value of 0.5 L given by EC4 is found to lead to unsafe results, being more appropriate to adopt the value of 0.7 L suggested in the UK National Annex.