Multi-Type Finite Elements Hybrid Model for Simulating Global Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Frames in Fires

In general, reinforced concrete frames have excellent fire resistance properties, but more and more concrete buildings collapsed in fires. The majority of past research work on the response of concrete building to fire has looked at the effects of fire upon individual structural members, and most commonly when subjected to heating from standard fire tests. At present, the fire behaviors of whole reinforced concrete frame are not adequately understood. There is a great need for development of models which consider the effects of fire on the whole structure under more realistic heating regimes. There is also a fundamental requirement for further large-scale testing of concrete structures, to observe the behavior of whole concrete structures in real fires and also for validation of advanced computer analysis tools. Accuracy and efficiency are two major concerns in finite element analysis of structural response of concrete frames in fires. In this paper, a multi-type finite elements hybrid model for simulating structural behavior of whole reinforced concrete frames in real fire is suggested.