Finite element analysis of push tests under elevated temperatures

![CDATA[A three-dimensional push test model has been developed herein with a two dimensional temperature distribution analysis procedure based on the finite element method (FEM) and applied to steel-concrete composite beams. The motivation for this paper was to increase the awareness of the structural engineering community to the concepts behind composite steel-concrete structural design for fire exposure. The behaviour of reinforced concrete slabs under fire conditions strongly depends on the interaction of the slabs with the surrounding elements which includes the structural steel beam, steel reinforcing and shear connectors. This study was carried out to consider the effects of elevated temperatures on the behaviour of the composite steel-concrete beams for both solid and profiled steel sheeting slabs. This investigation is to study the load-slip relationship and ultimate load behaviour for push tests with a three dimensional non-linear finite element program ABAQUS. The structures were subjected to the ISO 843 fire standard. Due to elevated temperatures, the material properties change according with temperature. The studies were compared with experimental tests under both ambient and elevated temperatures. Furthermore for the elevated temperatures, the beams were loaded progressively up to the ultimate load to illustrate the capability of a structure to withstand load during fire. It is concluded that the finite element analysis showed that the shear connector strength under fire exposure was very sensitive. It is also shown that profiled steel sheeting slabs have greater fire resistance when compared with that of solid slabs as a function of their ambient temperature strength.]]