Inelastic buckling analysis of steel columns at different fire scenarios

This paper presents a comprehensive numerical study of the inelastic buckling behavior of I and H shaped steel columns subjected to different fire scenarios. A numerical computer code was developed and validated against numerical and experimental studies considering the impact of different temperature distributions on columns during fire. The study suggests practical temperature distributions, for design purposes, along the column height and the cross section and outlines the isolated behavior of columns in localized fire situations. Moreover, the study provides design guidelines for the inspected scenarios. The study indicates that the assumed temperature profile has a significant impact on the column buckling capacity. A direct formula to predict the inelastic buckling capacity of columns under uniform temperatures as well as design charts for S355 and S235 steel columns under various non-uniform temperature distributions are presented.