Behaviour of structural sub-assemblies of steel beams with openings in fire conditions

Beams with web openings represent an attractive system for multi-storey buildings characterized by long spans. Openings in web of steel beams enable building services to be integrated within the constructional depth of the floor, thus reducing the total floor depth. This paper employs the general finite element software ABAQUS to numerically model the behaviour of restrained structural subassemblies of steel beam with web openings to concrete filled tubular column under fire loading scenarios. Steel beams, in this case, are axially restrained which results in a drastically different behaviour when compared to unrestrained beams. In this research, a comprehensive finite element (FE) study of the behaviour of structural subassemblies of steel beams with openings under fire scenarios is conducted. Four sizes of perforated steel sections with seven different opening configurations are modelled and studied in order to understand the significance of their effects. Moreover, the influence of applied load ratios in addition to the level of axial restraint are examined. Consequently, considerations for the performance of axially restrained perforated steel beams under fire scenarios is provided.