Pulse shape effects on the dynamic response of a steel beam under combined action of fire and explosion loads

Numerical analysis of the responses of steel beam under the combined action of fire and explosion loads are performed by using the ABAQUS general finite element program. The pulse shape effects on the fire and blast resistance capabilities of steel beam are investigated. The peak amplitude of the pulse load-impulse curve and the critical temperature-impulse curve is proposed to distinguish safe and unsafe areas. Two scenarios that apply fire and explosion loads in different orders are considered. Numerical analysis results show that the blast resistance capability of steel beam sequentially decreases under the action of exponential, triangular, and rectangular pulse loads; the effects of rectangular, triangular, and exponential explosion pulse loads on the fire resistance performance of steel beam consecutively decrease; and the pulse shape effects on the fire resistance capability of steel beam decreases with the increase in dynamic load ratio.