The design of elements, which are part of a continuous slab or structural framework, to withstand fire is a complex problem. In this paper, the method of plastic analysis is used to determine the failure capacity and fire resistance of an internal span of a
continuous concrete slab. Failure loads are evaluated using sectional plastic moments derived on the basis of Eurocode 2 recommendations for material properties at elevated
temperatures. The analysis is compared with results of a test programme on simply supported and continuous concrete slab strips both at ambient temperature and under a fire regime. The plastic analysis predictions offire resistance times in a post test analysis were found to be quite accurate. In the test programme half-scale models were utilised and in the fire testing an equivalent model fire curve was derived, based on other work, which produced similarity of thermal responses in the model specimen.
D.J. O'Connor, B. McAllister, J. Munro and H.R. Bennett