Structural Response of Buildings in Fire

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2025 | Viewed by 1406

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Architectural Engineering, Kyonggi University, Suwon 16227, Republic of Korea
Interests: thermal-induced damage; mechanical properties; Non-destructive Evaluation; standard fire test; steel fire

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Post-earthquake fire (PEF) or post-fire earthquake (PFE) pose a significant threat to both human beings and urban structures. They may contribute to the collapse of damaged buildings as well as result in the loss of property and human casualties. This Special Issue aims to present the main observations regarding PEF, PFE, and fire events. This Special Issue will also cover the mitigation research that could be helpful to reduce or prevent the structural damage caused due to fire. The topics of this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. The structural response of various types of buildings under structural fire.
  2. The response of material behavior under fire such as mortar, wood, concrete, steel, and so on.
  3. The evaluation of residual strength for buildings subjected to horizontal and vertical loadings after a fire incident.
  4. Any kind of numerical methodology for the evaluation of post-earthquake fire/post-fire earthquake columns or beams in seismic resisting systems including moment resisting frames, building frame system, shear wall, and so on.

Prof. Dr. Byong-Jeong Choi
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • structural fire
  • post-earthquake fire
  • post-fire earthquake
  • residual strength after fire
  • fire resistance of building materials
  • numerical evaluation of buildings under fire
  • infrastructure fire

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 4042 KiB  
Article
Development of Analytical Solutions and Verification Experiments for Axially Restrained Reinforced Concrete Beams in a Fire
by Seungjea Lee, Daehoi Kim, Heewon Seo, Jeonguk Kim and Sungho Hong
Buildings 2025, 15(8), 1254; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15081254 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 218
Abstract
Fire-induced structural failure in axially restrained reinforced concrete (RC) beams is a critical concern in structural fire engineering. Comparative analysis with Eurocode and ASTM E119 fire safety guidelines reveals discrepancies between theoretical predictions and real fire-induced failures, emphasizing the need for revised structural [...] Read more.
Fire-induced structural failure in axially restrained reinforced concrete (RC) beams is a critical concern in structural fire engineering. Comparative analysis with Eurocode and ASTM E119 fire safety guidelines reveals discrepancies between theoretical predictions and real fire-induced failures, emphasizing the need for revised structural fire safety standards. Moreover, limited analytical solutions exist due to the complexity of fire behavior in axially restrained RC beams. This study develops an improved analytical model for axially restrained beams in fire, focusing on three critical points: (i) the peak axial compression force, (ii) the transition to zero axial force (bending limit), and (iii) the final failure point due to reinforcement fracture. A series of fire resistance experiments were conducted to obtain key structural parameters, including fire resistance time (FRT), axial force redistribution, and failure mechanisms. The experimental results were used to validate and refine the proposed model, enhancing its practical applicability. The original model underpredicts fire endurance by 11–14%, whereas the upgraded model is accurate to within ~2–4% of test results. This improved performance is attributed to the model’s consideration of stiffness degradation and early cracking. Overall, the study provides valuable insights for improving the fire-resistant design of restrained RC beams, particularly in critical infrastructure such as logistics centers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural Response of Buildings in Fire)
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20 pages, 4608 KiB  
Article
Finite Element Modeling of the Behaviors of Concrete-Filled Steel Tube (CFT) Columns at Elevated Temperatures
by Van Lanh Le, Chang-Hwan Lee, Robel Wondimu Alemayehu and Min Jae Park
Buildings 2025, 15(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15010011 - 24 Dec 2024
Viewed by 897
Abstract
Concrete-filled steel tube (CFT) columns are widely used as structural systems because of their high load-bearing capacity and material efficiency. However, under fire conditions, elevated temperatures degrade the mechanical properties of both steel and concrete. When combined with initial geometric imperfections, these factors [...] Read more.
Concrete-filled steel tube (CFT) columns are widely used as structural systems because of their high load-bearing capacity and material efficiency. However, under fire conditions, elevated temperatures degrade the mechanical properties of both steel and concrete. When combined with initial geometric imperfections, these factors significantly affect the load distribution and the fire resistance of the structure. Understanding how material properties and geometric factors change in CFT columns at elevated temperatures is essential for ensuring safe and efficient design. This study used the ASTM E119-88 fire curve to establish the relationship between the surface temperature of the structure and the fire resistance duration of the CFT column. Heat transfer and mechanical analyses of the structure were conducted using ABAQUS 2024 software. A comparison of simulation and experimental data showed that the numerical model was highly accurate. The study also addressed the effects of initial geometric imperfections, considering amplification factors of L/1000 and L/500, and compared the simulation results with the experimental data. The results demonstrated that initial geometric imperfections significantly influenced the fire resistance of the columns. Additionally, this study examined the material properties under high-temperature conditions as specified in the AISC 360-22 standard. The study compared the simulation results with the Eurocode standards and experimental data. The findings suggested that utilizing the material properties specified in the AISC 360-22 standard resulted in more conservative predictions of fire resistance for CFT columns, compared to the Eurocode standards. Furthermore, Appendix 4 of the AISC 360-22 standard was used to calculate the fire resistance rating of the CFT column. These calculations were compared with the simulation and experimental results to evaluate the reliability of using ABAQUS 2024 simulation software. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural Response of Buildings in Fire)
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