4c Tensile Membrane Action

4.
Achieving fire resistance
Tensile Membrane Action (TMA)

TMA can develop in concrete floors subjected to fire,
provided the proper design provisions are implemented
TMA is favorable for the fire behavior
Focus here on steel-concrete composite structures
Objective: explain TMA and apply the adequate design provisions
What is it? How does it work?
How can we design the structures to take advantage of this behavior?
1
2016/2017
University of Liege
J-M Franssen & T. Gernay
4. Achieving fire resistance
Tensile membrane action in composite floors

Steel concrete composite structures
Development of tensile membrane action in the floor (reinforced concrete slabs)
Example of a performance-based approach leading to cost reduction
2
2016/2017
University of Liege

Observation: Cardington tests (UK)
- Max T in steel was about 1150C
- Classical element-based fire calculation
predicts failure at 680C
- How did the structure survive?
3
2016/2017
University of Liege

Composite steel concrete floor in normal conditions
- Supports offered by secondary beams limit the floor span
- The floor spans in one direction and works in bending ( beam )
L1
Side A A
LADO
SIDE
A
Secondary
beams
Vigas internas
Unprotected
no
protegidas
internal
Side D
SIDE
Side BB B
LADO
LADO
SIDED D
beams
L2
Peripheral beams
Vigas
Protected
perifricas
perimeter
protegidas
beams
Side B C
LADO
SIDE
C
4
2016/2017
University of Liege

Composite steel concrete beam/floor in bending (normal conditions)
Composite beam in bending
Composite floor in bending
5
2016/2017
University of Liege

Composite steel concrete floor in fire conditions
- Secondary beams, unprotected, lose stiffness and offer no support
- Tensile membrane action develops on the wider panel between peripheral beams
L1
Side A A
LADO
SIDE
A
Secondary
beams
Vigas
internas
Unprotected
(unprotected)
no protegidas
Side D
SIDE
Side BB B
LADO
LADO
SIDED D
internal
beams
L2
Peripheral beams
Vigas
Protected
(protected)
perifricas
perimeter
protegidas
beams
Side B C
LADO
SIDE
C
6
2016/2017
University of Liege

Composite steel concrete floor in TMA (fire conditions)
7
2016/2017
University of Liege

One-way members simply supported (bending) VS fixed (catenary action)
Catenary action
Bending
Structural system
Deformed shape and

reactions
Development of catenary action in one-way members

Not easily activated because the tensile forces need to be equilibrated by external
reactions at the extremities
8
2016/2017
University of Liege

Two-way members (slabs) - How does tensile membrane action works?
The concrete slab is like a piece of fabrics
When it is very much deformed, it is subjected to tensile forces
(supported by the steel reinforcing mesh)
9
2016/2017
University of Liege

Two-way members (slabs) - How does tensile membrane action works?
The concrete slab is like a piece of fabrics
When it is very much deformed, it is subjected to tensile forces
(supported by the steel reinforcing mesh)
Different possibilities to equilibrate the tensile forces
By external horizontal forces?
By peripheral members?
By compression in the slab
10
2016/2017
University of Liege

How does it work?
Catenary action in a beam (1D)
Membrane action in a slab (2D)
- Shift from bending to tension
- Shift from bending to tension
- Large displacements (deflection)
- Large displacements (deflection)
- Tensile forces equilibrated by

external horizontal forces
- Tensile forces equilibrated by compression

in the slab auto-equilibrated
11
2016/2017
University of Liege

How does it work?
Membrane action in a slab (2D)
- Large displacements due to thermal gradient

- Tension in central zone (steel rebars) equilibrates
the vertical force owing to displacements (2nd order)
- Peripheral compression ring develops from
geometrical reasons
- Tensile forces are anchored in the compression
ring
- This effect can develop without any external
horizontal reaction (horizontal forces autoequilibrated); only vertical supports are needed at
the extremities
Floor with compressive and

tensile force lines
12
2016/2017
University of Liege

Benefits for design
- Slab supported by primary beams and secondary beams
- Secondary beams can be left without thermal insulation
- In fire conditions, the secondary beams quickly lose their load bearing capacity, but
tensile membrane action can develop in the wider panel
L1
SIDE
LADO
Side B B
DD
Side D
LADO
SIDE
Side AA
LADO
SIDE
A
Secondary
Vigas
internas
Unprotected
no
protegidas
beams
internal
beams
unprotected
L2
Peripheral
Vigas
Protected
beams
perifricas
perimeter
protegidas
beams
protected
LADO
SIDE
C
Side BC
13
2016/2017
University of Liege

Example of a performance-based approach leading to cost reduction in design
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2016/2017
University of Liege

Example of a performance-based approach leading to cost reduction in design
40 to 55% of steel beams

can be left unprotected
thermal insulation is put
only where necessary!
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2016/2017
University of Liege
Protected
Effet membranaire: btiment ArcelorMittal, Flmale, B

16
2016/2017
University of Liege

Conceptual design in the plan view
- Divide the floor into rectangular slab panels (aspect ratio < 3)
- One column must be present on each corner, no column inside the panel
- Protect the edge beams of the panel
- Leave internal beams of the panel unprotected
Ribs
Primary beam
Secondary beam
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2016/2017
University of Liege

Conceptual design in the section
- Reinforced concrete slabs or composite steel-concrete floors
- Provide steel mesh at mid-level of the slab (cover) with sufficient section to withstand
tensile membrane forces and sufficient overlapping between adjacent meshes
- Provide sufficient thickness of the slab to withstand compression membrane forces
Bending
lever arm
Membrane action
cover for fire
protection
Slab
Composite floor
18
2016/2017
University of Liege

Typical failure modes are:
a) Tension in the slab (central crack parallel to the short edges of the panel)
b) Compression in the compression ring or in the corners of the slab
c) Bending in the protected edge beams (receives more load than at room temperature)
d) Connection between:
1. unprotected beams and protected beams
2. protected beams and columns
19
2016/2017
University of Liege

Simulation by finite element method (SAFIR) tests for model validation
Diamond 2
FILE: UlsterS1
NODES: 2031
BEAMS: 260
TRUSSES: 0
SHELLS: 1664
SOILS: 0
IMPOSED DO
DISPLACEME
TIME: 6316.5
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
20
2016/2017
University of Liege
Z

Experimental research project FICEB (funded by RFCS)
Test performed on February 27, 2010 in Ulster, UK
Compartment 15 m x 9 m
Composite structure with cellular steel beams
Steel mesh: 393 mm/m
Mechanical load: 3.25 kN/m
Fire load: 700 MJ/m
21
2016/2017
University of Liege

1. Fire action OZone model
- Model: combination of Two-Zone and One-Zone fire
- Model: post flash-over uniform temperature in the compartment =(t)
- In reality: measures show a certain spatial disparity

1200
Middle
OZone model
1000
Temperature [C]
Left back
800
600
Right front
400
Right back
Left front
200
0
0
30
60
90
120
150
Time [min]
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2016/2017
University of Liege

2. Thermal response SAFIR model
- Input data for fire action: OZone results (step 1)
- Analysis of heat transfer in each section of the beams and slab
Diamond 2009.a.4 for SAFIR

1
1 11 111111 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 111111 11 1
FILE: prot2
NODES: 1683
ELEMENTS: 1523
22222
22222
22
222 2 2 2
2
2
2
22
2
2222222222222222222
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
22
2
22222222222222222222
FRONTIERS PLOT
CONTOUR PLOT
TEMPERATURE PLOT
TIME: 3600 sec
>Tmax
900.00
800.00
700.00
600.00
500.00
400.00
300.00
200.00
100.00
20.00
2
2
2
2
2
2
222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222
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2016/2017
University of Liege

3. Structural response SAFIR model
- Input data for the thermal response: SAFIR results (step 2)
- Analysis of the evolution of displacements, stresses, etc. in the structure
Secondary beam
unprotected
FILE: UlsterH1
NODES: 2031
BEAMS: 260
TRUSSES: 0
SHELLS: 1664
SOILS: 0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
BEAMS PLOT
SHELLS PLOT
IMPOSED DOF PLOT
Composite slab
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
prot1.tem
prot2.tem
prot3.tem
unpr1.tem
slab_side.tsh
slab_center.tsh
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
24
2016/2017
Primary beam protected

University of Liege

Results: deflections at mid-span
Note: no tuning of the parameters (e.g.: use of the OZone T and not measured T )
validation of predictive capability
25
2016/2017
University of Liege

FILE: UlsterS1
NODES: 2031
BEAMS: 260
TRUSSES: 0
SHELLS: 1664
SOILS: 0
IMPOSED DOF PLOT

DISPLACEMENT PLOT ( x 1)

TIME: 7737.3 sec
Finite element simulation (SAFIR) for model validation
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
Y
Z
1.0 E+00 m
X
Y
26
2016/2017
University of Liege

Shift from bending mode to tensile membrane action
FILE: ulsterft1b
NODES: 2031
BEAMS: 260
TRUSSES: 0
SHELLS: 1664
SOILS: 0
SOLIDS: 0
Ambient conditions
Fire conditions

TIME: 20.2 sec
(amplified)

FILE: ulsterft1b
NODES: 2031
BEAMS: 260
TRUSSES: 0
SHELLS: 1664
SOILS: 0
SOLIDS: 0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
IMPOSED DOF PLOT

N1-N2 MEMBRANE FORCE PLOT
F0
Z
F0
F0
TIME: 20.2 sec
F0
F0
- Membrane Force
+ Membrane Force
F0
1.0 E+00 m
F0 1.0 E-01F0
m
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
Z
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
Y
X
5.0 E-01 m
Y
F0
F0
1.0 E+00 m
Tension: red | Compression: blue
27
2016/2017
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
F0
University of Liege

What do we learn from such a test?
Validation of tensile membrane action with cellular steel beams
Increased confidence in design and execution (e.g.: steel mesh in concrete)
Validation of software (OZone, SAFIR) and capability to reproduce (and predict) a
test on a loaded structure under natural fire
Increased confidence in material models (e.g.: concrete)
General impact
Improved knowledge of tensile membrane action
Possibility of substantial cost reductions in fire protection of steel beams
Opportunity of implementation of this effect in the Eurocodes
Opportunity of use of numerical methods to generate more results (parametric
analyses) for calibration of simplified methods that can be incorporated in codes
28
2016/2017
University of Liege

Different experimental research programs
Full scale tests
Some in a lab (ISO fire), some in natural conditions
Collapse observed in one test but very severe design
Size [m x m]
FRACOF COSSFIRE
TONGJI
MOKRSKO
FICEB
8,7 x 6,7 8,4 x 6,7
5,2 x 3,7
12,0 x 9,0 15,0 x 9,0
MUNCHEN
7,5 x 5,0
Slab [mm]
97
75
70
60
69
Bars [mm]
257
256
335
196
393
Load [kN/m]
3,87
3,93
9,00 - 18,00
3,00
3,25
2,10
Fire
ISO
ISO
ISO
Results [min]
123
120
75 - 100
620 MJ/m 700 MJ/m 584 MJ/m

Collapse
Survival
Survival
29
2016/2017
University of Liege

Numerical calculation model for TMA
Transient analysis
Step by step quasi static analysis
Dynamic analysis
Shell-membrane finite element
3D beam finite element
Plane stress constitutive model for concrete
plasticity-damage
strain reversal
cooling
transient creep
Uniaxial constitutive model for the steel bars
Large displacements
Thermal expansion
30
2016/2017
University of Liege

Simple calculation models for TMA
1. C. Bailey method
Treats slab panels individually (no horizontal link between panels)
Orthotropic steel mesh and unprotected beams can be considered
Load bearing capacity calculated in bending by the yield line theory is
enhanced by a factor that takes into account the beneficial effect of tensile
membrane action
Crushing of concrete in the corners can be verified
2. C. Clifton
Developed a user-friendly computer software
Considers the flexibility of the protected edge beams
3. G.Q. Li
Based on equilibrium equations
Horizontal and vertical displacements fully fixed on the edges
4. See also Omer, Izzudin & Elghazouli
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2016/2017
University of Liege

Implementation in real projects
The shard in London
32
2016/2017
University of Liege

Conclusion
Tensile membrane action is an efficient load transfer mode
It has been observed in real fires and studied in full scale experimental tests
It allows leaving around 50% of the steel beams unprotected
It can be verified by simple models or by numerical analyses
It is accompanied by large displacements
It requires special attention on the building site
33
2016/2017
University of Liege

4c Tensile Membrane Action

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4.

Achieving fire resistance

Tensile Membrane Action (TMA)

J-M Franssen & T. Gernay

4. Achieving fire resistance

Tensile membrane action in composite floors

J-M Franssen & T. Gernay

4. Achieving fire resistance

Tensile membrane action in composite floors

J-M Franssen & T. Gernay

4. Achieving fire resistance

Tensile membrane action in composite floors

J-M Franssen & T. Gernay

4. Achieving fire resistance

Tensile membrane action in composite floors

Composite beam in bending

Composite floor in bending

J-M Franssen & T. Gernay

4. Achieving fire resistance

Tensile membrane action in composite floors

J-M Franssen & T. Gernay

4. Achieving fire resistance

Tensile membrane action in composite floors

J-M Franssen & T. Gernay

4. Achieving fire resistance

Tensile membrane action in composite floors

Deformed shape and

Development of catenary action in one-way members

J-M Franssen & T. Gernay

4. Achieving fire resistance

Tensile membrane action in composite floors

J-M Franssen & T. Gernay

4. Achieving fire resistance

Tensile membrane action in composite floors

By compression in the slab

J-M Franssen & T. Gernay

4. Achieving fire resistance

Tensile membrane action in composite floors

Catenary action in a beam (1D)

Membrane action in a slab (2D)

- Shift from bending to tension

- Shift from bending to tension

- Large displacements (deflection)

- Large displacements (deflection)

- Tensile forces equilibrated by

- Tensile forces equilibrated by compression

J-M Franssen & T. Gernay

4. Achieving fire resistance

Tensile membrane action in composite floors

Membrane action in a slab (2D)

- Large displacements due to thermal gradient

Floor with compressive and

J-M Franssen & T. Gernay

4. Achieving fire resistance

Tensile membrane action in composite floors

J-M Franssen & T. Gernay

4. Achieving fire resistance

Tensile membrane action in composite floors

J-M Franssen & T. Gernay

4. Achieving fire resistance

Tensile membrane action in composite floors

40 to 55% of steel beams

J-M Franssen & T. Gernay

4. Achieving fire resistance