Structural fire analysis

• Grant number: 13/02435-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: June 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering - Structural Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Valdir Pignatta e Silva
• Grantee: Valdir Pignatta e Silva
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The resistance of structural elements is decreased in fire due to the reduction in strength of materials or the deterioration of your resistant area. Most of Brazilian States have legislation that requires that the structures should be designed for the fire situation. In the case of the State of São Paulo, the structures fire design is required by Decree No. 56,819. In the State of São Paulo and other States, whose legislation is inspired in the São Paulo one, in addition to the requirements in relation to the structures, there are many others related to architectural and facilities design.An architectural and facilities design that complies with the legal requirements, besides to give greater fire safety directly affects the design of structures.It is well known that the Brazilian engineers and architects have not absorbed sufficient knowledge to comply with Brazilian legislation. "Structural fire engineering" is a new scientific area in Brazil. It is necessary more research and greater diffusion of this subject.The structures in fire safety (GPESI) research group of the Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering of the Polytechnic School of the University of Sao Paulo has been very active in this area, including acting on topics not searched outside the group.Currently the following researches are under development or to start:-Development of software for composite non-standard columns in fire-Analysis of the effect of thermal deformations restrictions in structural elements-Development of software for concrete columns under oblique flexo-compression in fire-Analysis of the effect of membrane in composite slabs in fire-Development of computational tools for design of structural elements in fire -Graphical method for alternative to standardized designSome of these items will take up to 6 years to complete and depend on software like the Super Tempcalc and Diana.The objective of this request, whose project is limited to 2 years, is to ensure the continuity of work in GPESI through the acquisition of license for use of software, most modern computers and the development of a Web Site to better disseminate the research and the theme. (AU)