Numerical modelling of two-way reinforced concrete slabs in fire

This paper describes numerical modelling of the fire behaviour of two-way reinforced concrete slabs using a special purpose non-linear finite-element program, SAFIR. Several two-way reinforced concrete and composite steel–concrete slabs are tested under exposure to the ISO standard fire in order to validate the shell finite element in the SAFIR program. The modelling results showed agreement with the fire tests and demonstrate that the SAFIR shell element can be used to predict tensile membrane behaviour of two-way reinforced concrete slabs in fire conditions. The analyses show that two-way slabs have excellent fire resistance if they deform in double curvature and develop tensile membrane action.