Title: Simulation of Realistic Thermal Restraint During Fire Tests of Floors and Roofs

Author(s): T.D. Lin and Melvin S. Abrams

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 80

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 1-68

Keywords: computer programs; concrete slabs; deflection; expansion; finite element method; fire resistance; fire tests; flat concrete plates; floors; furnaces; high temperature; measuring instruments; restraints; roofs; thermocouples.

DOI: 10.14359/6585

Date: 7/1/1983

Abstract:
This report describes a five-phase test program. In Phase I, 13 small size specimens were tested. Included were flat plates, flat plates with edge beams, and ribbed slabs. Horizontal and vertical temperature distributions, expansions, and deflections were measured during heating periods. In Phases II and III, computer programs for heat flow cal-culations and stress analysis were developed. Subsequently, six 14x18-ft floor slabs were fire tested. During the tests, slab expansions in both directions were controlled to follow computed time-expansion relationships. Four more 14x18-ft specimens were fire tested in Phases IV and V to verify results of studies to develop methods of simula-ting realistic restraints in a fixed frame furnace through the use of pads made with compressible materials. Expansions and restraining forces measured when compressible pads were used were compared with those obtained for companion slabs tested in a furnace with hydraulically controlled restraining frames. The comparisons show reasonable agreement indicating that it is possible to use fixed frame furnaces to simulate realistic thermal restraints during fire tests of floor slabs.