Assessment of Post-Earthquake Fire Performance of Steel-Frame Buildings

Abstract eng:
Post-Earthquake Fire (PEF) is an important factor causing damage to buildings and life-line structures. While PEF events are not uncommon, current design codes do not consider it explicitly in the structural design. It is important to note that when all efforts to contain the fire fail, the structure provides the last line of defense. Therefore, in a multi hazard scenario such as PEF, the individual and the probable combination of events must be considered in the context of performance-based design. This paper presents a review of PEF hazard and performance of steel-frame building structures under PEF conditions. Unprotected steel is particularly vulnerable to fire hazard. The mechanical strength of steel reduces drastically at high temperature. In a post-earthquake scenario, the building frame and its fire protection system may be significantly damaged and consequently resistance to subsequent fire is reduced. An analytical study of two-dimensional steel frames under the effects of seismic lateral loads and subsequent fire has been presented. The study reveals that the PEF performance of steel frames is affected by the lateral deformation caused by the seismic ground motion.

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