Numerical analysis of aluminum alloy reticulated shells with gusset joints under fire conditions

doi:10.1007/s11709-022-0910-5

Front. Struct. Civ. Eng.

2023, Vol. 17

Issue (3) : 448-466 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-022-0910-5

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Numerical analysis of aluminum alloy reticulated shells with gusset joints under fire conditions

Shaojun ZHU, Zhangjianing CHENG, Chaozhong ZHANG, Xiaonong GUO(

)

College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China

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Abstract

In this study, a numerical analysis was conducted on aluminum alloy reticulated shells (AARSs) with gusset joints under fire conditions. First, a thermal-structural coupled analysis model of AARSs considering joint semi-rigidity was proposed and validated against room-temperature and fire tests. The proposed model can also be adopted to analyze the fire response of other reticulated structures with semi-rigid joints. Second, a parametric analysis was conducted based on the numerical model to explore the buckling behavior of K6 AARS with gusset joints under fire conditions. The results indicated that the span, height-to-span ratio, height of the supporting structure, and fire power influence the reduction factor of the buckling capacity of AARSs under fire conditions. In contrast, the reduction factor is independent of the number of element divisions, number of rings, span-to-thickness ratio, and support condition. Subsequently, practical design formulae for predicting the reduction factor of the buckling capacity of K6 AARSs were derived based on numerical analysis results and machine learning techniques to provide a rapid evaluation method. Finally, further numerical analyses were conducted to propose practical design suggestions, including the conditions of ignoring the ultimate bearing capacity analysis of K6 AARS and ignoring the radiative heat flux.

Keywords aluminum alloy reticulated shell gusset joint numerical analysis fire resistance

Corresponding Author(s): Xiaonong GUO

Just Accepted Date: 19 December 2022 Online First Date: 23 April 2023 Issue Date: 24 May 2023

Cite this article:

Shaojun ZHU,Zhangjianing CHENG,Chaozhong ZHANG, et al. Numerical analysis of aluminum alloy reticulated shells with gusset joints under fire conditions[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2023, 17(3): 448-466.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fsce/EN/10.1007/s11709-022-0910-5
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fsce/EN/Y2023/V17/I3/448

Fig.1 Room-temperature static test specimen of a K6 AARS [22]. (Reprinted from Thin-Walled Structures, 118, Xiong Z, Guo X, Luo Y, Zhu S, Liu J, Experimental and numerical studies on single-layer reticulated shells with aluminium alloy gusset joints, 124–136, Copyright 2017, with permission from Elsevier.)

Fig.2 Pin sub element of the MPC184 element in ANSYS.

Fig.3 Simplified numerical model for a member in the AARS.

Fig.4 Comparison of load?displacement curves obtained from test and numerical simulation.

Fig.5 Properties of material and joint in the AARS shell specimen tested at different temperatures calculated according to Refs. [10,21]: (a) material constitutive model; (b) out-of-plane bending stiffness of joint.

Fig.6 Comparison of experimental and numerical displacement?time curves of typical joints in test D-1: (a) D1; (b) D2; (c) D6; (d) D7.

Fig.7 Comparison of experimental and numerical displacement?time curves of typical joints in test D-2: (a) D1; (b) D5; (c) D6; (d) D7.

Fig.8 Comparison of experimental and numerical deformation patterns: (a) Test D-1; (b) Test D-2.

Fig.9 Numerical model parameters.

Fig.10 Influence of number of element divisions on k_Λ: (a) fire location 1; (b) fire location 2.

Fig.11 Influence of span on k_Λ: (a) fire location 1; (b) fire location 2.

Fig.12 Influence of height-to-span ratios on k_Λ: (a) fire location 1; (b) fire location 2.

Fig.13 Influence of number of rings on k_Λ: (a) fire location 1; (b) fire location 2.

Fig.14 Ultimate states of AARS with different numbers of rings at t = 2400 s (fire located at the center, unit: m): (a) 10 rings; (b) 12 rings; (c) 14 rings.

Fig.15 Influence of span-to-thickness ratios on k_Λ: (a) fire location 1; (b) fire location 2.

Fig.16 Ultimate states of AARS with different span-to-thickness ratios at t = 2400 s (fire located at the center, unit: m): (a) 160; (b) 100.

Fig.17 Influence of support conditions on k_Λ: (a) fire location 1; (b) fire location 2.

Fig.18 Ultimate states of AARS with different support conditions at t = 2400 s (fire located at the center, unit: m): (a) pinned support; (b) fixed support.

Fig.19 Influence of height of supporting structure on k_Λ: (a) fire location 1; (b) fire location 2.

Fig.20 Influence of fire power on k_Λ: (a) fire location 1; (b) fire location 2.

Fig.21 Comparison of numerical curves and the curve of the proposed formula: (a) fire location 1; (b) fire location 2.

Tab.1 Fitting parameters of k_Λ,min under common fire scenarios

Fig.22 Comparison between the fitting values of k_Λ,min and actual values: (a) fire location 1; (b) fire location 2.

Fig.23 Results of k_i: (a) fire location 1; (b) fire location 2.

Fig.24 Definitions of parametric analysis: (a) fire under the roof; (b) fire near support.

Tab.2 Parameter analysis results when the fire is under the roof

Fig.25 Member temperature contour of the structure at 132 s (Q = 8 MW and d_f = 1 m): (a) radiative heat flux considered; (b) radiative heat flux ignored.

Fig.26 Member temperature contour of the structure at 396 s (Q = 8 MW and d_f = 5 m): (a) radiative heat flux considered; (b) radiative heat flux ignored.

Tab.3 Parameter analysis results when the fire is near the support

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