Finite Element Analysis of Flat Plate Structures in Fire
Understanding the structural behaviour of flat plate systems during fire exposure is critical for ensuring the safety of occupants and emergency personnel. Flat slabs, a widely used structural system, undergo significant thermal deformations in fire, which increase demands on supporting columns and...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Fire |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/8/7/252 |
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| author | Mohamed Hesien Maged A. Youssef Salah El-Fitiany |
| author_facet | Mohamed Hesien Maged A. Youssef Salah El-Fitiany |
| author_sort | Mohamed Hesien |
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| description | Understanding the structural behaviour of flat plate systems during fire exposure is critical for ensuring the safety of occupants and emergency personnel. Flat slabs, a widely used structural system, undergo significant thermal deformations in fire, which increase demands on supporting columns and reduce the stiffness and strength of concrete and steel. While experimental fire tests have provided valuable data to understand the behaviour of isolated components of flat slabs, numerical analysis is the only route to comprehending the structural behaviour of full-scale flat plate structures during fire exposure. ABAQUS is commonly used for modelling reinforced concrete (RC) structures under fire, with two prevailing techniques: (1) solid element modelling for concrete and truss reinforcement and (2) shell element modelling with embedded steel layers and line-column elements. However, uncertainties remain regarding the influence of modelling parameters such as dilation angle and concrete tensile stress, and the impact of surface fire exposure has not been comprehensively studied. This study presents a novel contribution by conducting a detailed numerical investigation of a full-scale flat plate structure exposed to fire using both modelling approaches. The shell-element model was validated against experimental data and used to evaluate the effect of dilation angle and tensile strength assumptions. A unique aspect of this work is the assessment of fire exposure on different slab surfaces, including bottom, top, and both, which provides insights into slab deflections and column displacements under different surface fire exposure scenarios. The structure was then modelled using solid elements to systematically compare modelling techniques. The results highlight key differences between approaches and guide for selecting the most suitable modelling strategies for fire-exposed flat plate systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-116dea78f4e14e57a84802a94829cb07 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2571-6255 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fire |
| spelling | doaj-art-116dea78f4e14e57a84802a94829cb072025-08-20T03:36:18ZengMDPI AGFire2571-62552025-06-018725210.3390/fire8070252Finite Element Analysis of Flat Plate Structures in FireMohamed Hesien0Maged A. Youssef1Salah El-Fitiany2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, CanadaDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, CanadaDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, CanadaUnderstanding the structural behaviour of flat plate systems during fire exposure is critical for ensuring the safety of occupants and emergency personnel. Flat slabs, a widely used structural system, undergo significant thermal deformations in fire, which increase demands on supporting columns and reduce the stiffness and strength of concrete and steel. While experimental fire tests have provided valuable data to understand the behaviour of isolated components of flat slabs, numerical analysis is the only route to comprehending the structural behaviour of full-scale flat plate structures during fire exposure. ABAQUS is commonly used for modelling reinforced concrete (RC) structures under fire, with two prevailing techniques: (1) solid element modelling for concrete and truss reinforcement and (2) shell element modelling with embedded steel layers and line-column elements. However, uncertainties remain regarding the influence of modelling parameters such as dilation angle and concrete tensile stress, and the impact of surface fire exposure has not been comprehensively studied. This study presents a novel contribution by conducting a detailed numerical investigation of a full-scale flat plate structure exposed to fire using both modelling approaches. The shell-element model was validated against experimental data and used to evaluate the effect of dilation angle and tensile strength assumptions. A unique aspect of this work is the assessment of fire exposure on different slab surfaces, including bottom, top, and both, which provides insights into slab deflections and column displacements under different surface fire exposure scenarios. The structure was then modelled using solid elements to systematically compare modelling techniques. The results highlight key differences between approaches and guide for selecting the most suitable modelling strategies for fire-exposed flat plate systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/8/7/252flat platefire safetyfinite element analysisfailure analysisshell elementsolid element |
| spellingShingle | Mohamed Hesien Maged A. Youssef Salah El-Fitiany Finite Element Analysis of Flat Plate Structures in Fire Fire flat plate fire safety finite element analysis failure analysis shell element solid element |
| title | Finite Element Analysis of Flat Plate Structures in Fire |
| title_full | Finite Element Analysis of Flat Plate Structures in Fire |
| title_fullStr | Finite Element Analysis of Flat Plate Structures in Fire |
| title_full_unstemmed | Finite Element Analysis of Flat Plate Structures in Fire |
| title_short | Finite Element Analysis of Flat Plate Structures in Fire |
| title_sort | finite element analysis of flat plate structures in fire |
| topic | flat plate fire safety finite element analysis failure analysis shell element solid element |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/8/7/252 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mohamedhesien finiteelementanalysisofflatplatestructuresinfire AT magedayoussef finiteelementanalysisofflatplatestructuresinfire AT salahelfitiany finiteelementanalysisofflatplatestructuresinfire |