Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	EP/H048782/1
Title:	Behaviour Of Axially Restrained Steel Columns With Elliptical Sections Subjected To Severe Fire
Principal Investigator:	Ali, Professor F
Other Investigators:	Nadjai, Professor A
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Jeremy Gardner Associates
Department:	Sch of Built Environment
Organisation:	University of Ulster
Scheme:	Standard Research
Starts:	01 March 2011	Ends:	28 February 2013	Value (£):	230,434
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Structural Engineering
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Construction
Related Grants:
Panel History:	Panel Date Panel Name Outcome 10 Feb 2010 Process Environment and Sustainability (PES) Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
Elliptical structural steel hollow sections represent a recent addition to the range of steel sections available to structural engineers. However, despite the extensive interest in their use on the basis of both architectural attraction and structural efficiency, a complete absence of fire resistance design guidance is restraining applications. The proposed project aims to overcome this through investigating the performance of elliptical steel sections subjected to severe fire and to develop preliminary simplified fire design guidance and rules. The study is based on reliable high standards fire experiments, theoretical understanding, and sophisticated finite element numerical modelling. Fire testing will be the key instrument for obtaining the fundamental data required, and once calibrated, numerical modelling will be used to conduct a parametric study to investigate the importance of the individual parameters and to extend the range of available data. The study will involve investigating steel hollow and concrete filled elliptical steel sections subjected to severe fire scenarios. Design rules will be developed taking into account the fire engineer, with careful consideration given to finding the right balance between accuracy of result and ease of calculation methods. Dissemination of the findings of this research will be made through an internet website, journal publications and by presentation at international conferences. This novel study will be the first investigation to study the fire resistance of restrained elliptical hollow and concrete filled steel columns.
Key Findings
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Organisation Website:	http://www.ulst.ac.uk