Validation of an analytical model for curved and tapered cellular beams at normal and fire conditions

Abstract

The growing use of cellular beams in steel construction leads to the development of various configurations such as curved and tapered cellular beams. In order to provide a tool predicting the behavior of those beams for design applications, the CTICM developed a software based on analytical formulas with adaptation to the curved and tapered cellular beams. Recently, the analytical formulas were adapted to fire conditions. In this paper, a nonlinear numerical model is developed and performed to validate the analytical approach. The model is applied to curved and tapered beams considering various opening and support configurations in normal and fire conditions. The comparison between the numerical and the analytical results validates and shows the possibilities of the analytical model and its limits.