Numerical experimental design approach to evaluate the fire resistance of timber connections

摘要

A large experimental and modeling program concerning fire tests on timber connections underrnvarious mechanical loadings was performed in France since 1999. Numerical models, simulating the thermomechanicalrnbehavior of these tested connections were developed and validated on the basis of experimentalrnresults. The developed model is sufficiently relevant to realize parametrical studies on timber connections. Then,rnconsidering the four main parameters influencing the fire resistance of the connections (type and diameter ofrnfasteners, thickness of timber members and load ratio), the model is used to analyze the combined influencernof these factors and to realize a complete numerical experimental design. The thicknesses of the timber beamrnelements commercially available and the fastener diameters commonly used in timber structures are considered.rnThis numerical experimental design, taking into account a predominant loading case of timber connections inrnfire situation, allows obtaining a simplified analytical formula giving the possibility to predict easily the firernresistance of the connection configuration studied.