Adaptation factor for moment capacity calculation of steel beams subject to temperature gradient

Adaptation factors provide a simple means to estimate the moment capacity of a steel beam subject to temperature gradient. The use of adaptation factors is introduced in Eurocode for structural steel design under fire conditions. Temperature gradients arise in a steel/concrete composite beam usually as a result of the partial protection from fire by another structural or non-structural member. For a bare steel section subject to any temperature gradient, a value of 0.7 is stipulated for the adaptation factor in the Eurocode. A value of 0.85 is stipulated for protected beam under the same fire situation. These values are used to increase the steel beam’s calculated moment capacity which is based on an assumed uniform temperature of the cross-section. Literature on the use of the adaptation factors is scarce. In this paper, the value of the adaptation factor being adopted by the Eurocode for design of steel beam in fire with non-uniform temperature distribution is examined. The use of this value in the general cases of steel/concrete composite beam construction is studied by carrying out numerical computations for various temperature gradient cases. The suitability of the adaptation factor value adopted by the code is discussed and recommendations given.