Aluminium Bridges under Fire Conditions: Structural Behaviour

Due to a number of advantages, aluminium is used in the attachment units of mullion and transom systems for decorative panels and translucent fillings, as well as for bridge structures. Despite its advantages, aluminium has a low melting point and does not have fire resistance performances required...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fedor Aleksandrovich Portnov, Dmitry Aleksandrovich Korolchenko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-06-01
Series:Buildings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/7/1669
_version_ 1797589972386054144
author Fedor Aleksandrovich Portnov
Dmitry Aleksandrovich Korolchenko
author_facet Fedor Aleksandrovich Portnov
Dmitry Aleksandrovich Korolchenko
author_sort Fedor Aleksandrovich Portnov
collection DOAJ
description Due to a number of advantages, aluminium is used in the attachment units of mullion and transom systems for decorative panels and translucent fillings, as well as for bridge structures. Despite its advantages, aluminium has a low melting point and does not have fire resistance performances required by regulatory documents under fire conditions. Therefore, this article is aimed at studying the behaviour of aluminium structures under high temperatures. To achieve this objective, we have analysed the aluminium structures most commonly used in construction—the attachment units of mullion and transom systems, with different protections against fire, columns and orthotropic decks used in bridge construction. In order to assess the behaviour of selected structures under fire conditions, we have developed methods for studying temperature distributions in structures in detail. Using the developed methods, tests have been carried out. Based on the received experimental data, we analysed the behaviour of aluminium structures in fire conditions and developed measures to increase the fire resistance of aluminium structures. Such measures include using hollow profiles to ensure air exchange with the cold sections of the structure, applying dedicated cooling agents to cool the structure and removing heat to the atmosphere and thermal barriers so as to protect aluminium structures. We found that fire resistance measures enhance the fire resistance of aluminium attachment units of mullion and transom systems by 1.5 times. The use of hollow air-permeable profiles and cooling agents in orthotropic decks increases fire resistance by 3 times by removing heat from the structures. The fire resistance rating of hollow profile aluminium columns is 1.5 times higher than that of structures without air-permeable profiles. The obtained results can be used as the most effective basis for the design of aluminium structures. The principles of increasing fire resistance given in this article are applicable to other types of structures, and can also be used with other methods of fire protection. Increasing the fire resistance of aluminium structures enables the expansion of the scope of their applications.
first_indexed 2024-03-11T01:14:45Z
format Article
id doaj.art-8d0e957459f645d29acad2417afb9c00
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2075-5309
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-11T01:14:45Z
publishDate 2023-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Buildings
spelling doaj.art-8d0e957459f645d29acad2417afb9c002023-11-18T18:37:07ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092023-06-01137166910.3390/buildings13071669Aluminium Bridges under Fire Conditions: Structural BehaviourFedor Aleksandrovich Portnov0Dmitry Aleksandrovich Korolchenko1Moscow State University of Civil Engineering, Yaroslav Shosse, 26, 129337 Moscow, RussiaMoscow State University of Civil Engineering, Yaroslav Shosse, 26, 129337 Moscow, RussiaDue to a number of advantages, aluminium is used in the attachment units of mullion and transom systems for decorative panels and translucent fillings, as well as for bridge structures. Despite its advantages, aluminium has a low melting point and does not have fire resistance performances required by regulatory documents under fire conditions. Therefore, this article is aimed at studying the behaviour of aluminium structures under high temperatures. To achieve this objective, we have analysed the aluminium structures most commonly used in construction—the attachment units of mullion and transom systems, with different protections against fire, columns and orthotropic decks used in bridge construction. In order to assess the behaviour of selected structures under fire conditions, we have developed methods for studying temperature distributions in structures in detail. Using the developed methods, tests have been carried out. Based on the received experimental data, we analysed the behaviour of aluminium structures in fire conditions and developed measures to increase the fire resistance of aluminium structures. Such measures include using hollow profiles to ensure air exchange with the cold sections of the structure, applying dedicated cooling agents to cool the structure and removing heat to the atmosphere and thermal barriers so as to protect aluminium structures. We found that fire resistance measures enhance the fire resistance of aluminium attachment units of mullion and transom systems by 1.5 times. The use of hollow air-permeable profiles and cooling agents in orthotropic decks increases fire resistance by 3 times by removing heat from the structures. The fire resistance rating of hollow profile aluminium columns is 1.5 times higher than that of structures without air-permeable profiles. The obtained results can be used as the most effective basis for the design of aluminium structures. The principles of increasing fire resistance given in this article are applicable to other types of structures, and can also be used with other methods of fire protection. Increasing the fire resistance of aluminium structures enables the expansion of the scope of their applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/7/1669bridge structurelightweight building structurealuminium structureorthotropic deckattachment unitfire resistance
spellingShingle Fedor Aleksandrovich Portnov
Dmitry Aleksandrovich Korolchenko
Aluminium Bridges under Fire Conditions: Structural Behaviour
Buildings
bridge structure
lightweight building structure
aluminium structure
orthotropic deck
attachment unit
fire resistance
title Aluminium Bridges under Fire Conditions: Structural Behaviour
title_full Aluminium Bridges under Fire Conditions: Structural Behaviour
title_fullStr Aluminium Bridges under Fire Conditions: Structural Behaviour
title_full_unstemmed Aluminium Bridges under Fire Conditions: Structural Behaviour
title_short Aluminium Bridges under Fire Conditions: Structural Behaviour
title_sort aluminium bridges under fire conditions structural behaviour
topic bridge structure
lightweight building structure
aluminium structure
orthotropic deck
attachment unit
fire resistance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/13/7/1669
work_keys_str_mv AT fedoraleksandrovichportnov aluminiumbridgesunderfireconditionsstructuralbehaviour
AT dmitryaleksandrovichkorolchenko aluminiumbridgesunderfireconditionsstructuralbehaviour