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The existing local fire code ¡§Standard for Installation of Fire Protection Facilities in Classified Areas¡¨ is prescriptive in nature and suitable for buildings, which can be well compartmented. It also described the minimum requirement for specific system designs such as fire and smoke compartmentation, mechanical smoke extraction rate, etc. on item 188. In this reserch, the concourse level encountered large spaces and is the vital part for passengers¡¦ movement, either under normal condition or in emergency cases. Therefore, a performance-based fire engineering design has been exercised which is also allowed in local fire code subject to approval from the authorities having jurisdiction. First, a comparative study of the code compliances should be addressed, with the alternative design options supported by 3D CFD simulation. The FDS (Fire Dynamic Simulation) program was utilized for this reserch for 3D CFD simulation. It is developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of U.S.. FDS is a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of fire-driven fluid flow. The software solves numerically a form of the Navier-Stokes equations appropriate for thermally-driven flow with an emphasis on smoke and heat transport from fires. Secondly, it is decided that a full-scale hot smoke test should be conducted to validate the smoke management system performances under the as-built conditions. It can be summarized that, following the NFPA 92B N-percentage Criteria, both test 1 and test 2 results indicated that the hot smoke tests are successful, in validating that a sufficient smoke clear height can be maintained for safe evacuation should a 5 MW t-squared fast fire occurred at the concourse level. Finally, following the NFPA 130 and NFPA 92B as the design guides, the performance-based fire safety engineering design conducted in concourse level, is successful through 3D CFD simulations and full-scale hot smoke test. A smoke¡Vfree escape route can be maintained for a period of time much longer than needed for the worst case fire scenario which warrants a safe evacuation in case of a 5 MW fire occurred on concourse level.

Σε αυτή την εργασία ερευνήθηκε λεπτομερώς η ηλεκτρομαγνητική συμβατότητα (EMC) και η ασφάλεια ενός Φ/Β συστήματος. Τα συμπεράσματα από αυτές τις έρευνες θα συμβάλουν στη βελτίωση ή/και τη δημιουργία προτύπων σχετικά με την EMC και την ασφάλεια των συστημάτων . Τα κύρια θέματα που καλύπτονται από την εργασία είναι - έρευνες σχετικά με το ηλεκτρομαγνητικό περιβάλλον (π.χ. επίδραση από κεραυνό, μετρήσεις στο δίκτυο χαμηλής τάσης και υπερτάσεις) - έρευνες όσον αφορά τις εκπομπές (παρεμβολές στη περιοχή ραδιοφωνικών συχνοτήτων και περεμβολές λόγω αγωγής στις γραμμές συνεχούς.) - έρευνες που στοχεύουν στην διαμόρφωση των απαιτήσεων ασφαλείας. Οι κοινές δοκιμές ασφαλείας έναντι σε πλήγμα κεραυνού είναι βασισμένες σε ξεπερασμένα δεδομενα και δεν απεικονίζουν την πραγματική καταπόνηση. Για να υπερκεραστει αυτή η κατάσταση που διαπιστωθηκε σχετικά με την έμμεση επίδραση πλήγματος κεραυνού σε φ/β σύστημα, πραγματοποιήθηκε έρευνα σε έναν πειραματικό σταθμό που εγκαταστάθηκε σε θέση με υψηλό ποσοστό πληγμάτων από κεραυνό (Ng) (βουνό "Gaisberg", Αυστρία). Ένα σημαντικό αποτέλεσμα από τις μετρήσεις είναι ότι η κλήση του μετώπου του ρεύματος κεραυνού είναι κατά μέσον όρο 4 φορές υψηλότερη από τον τυποποιημένο παλμό ρεύματος 1.2/50 μs. Ένα σύστημα ανάλυσης αυτόνομων φ/β συστημάτων που χρησιμοποιείται στη νήσο Fuerteventura και εκτελέστηκε από την EnEtica, την arsenal research και την ISET έχει παρουσιάσει ποικιλία προβλημάτων όσον αφορά τα φ/β συστήματα. Μεταξύ αυτών, είναι προβλήματα με υπερρεύματα και βραχυκυκλώματα, ραδιο εκπομπή, αρμονικές, κλιματολογική επιρροή (κάλυψη από άμμο, διάβρωση), και άλλα. Τα αποτελέσματα από αυτές τις έρευνες χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για να υπογραμμίσουν την ανάγκη για νέες δοκιμές σε μερικά ηλεκτρονικά τμήματα των φ/β συστημάτων . ΟΙ μετρήσεις για το δίκτυο χαμηλής τάσης εκτελέσθηκαν από την EAM. Πρώτα, δίνεται μια επισκόπηση για τα χαρακτηριστικά του δικτύου χαμηλής τάσης από την άποψη των διακυμάνσεων της τάσης, της ανάλυσης αρμονικών, της σύνθετης αντίστασης, και άλλων παραμέτρων. Αφετέρου ερευνήθηκε η ανατροφοδότηση των Φ/Β συστημάτων στο δίκτυο χαμηλής τάσης . Η κύρια προσοχή της έρευνας της ISET εστιάστηκε στις έρευνες σχετικά με τη παρεμβολή των φ/β συστημάτων στις ραδιοφωνικές συχνότητες. Ένα αποτέλεσμα αυτών των ερευνών είναι χαρακτηριστικά, η σύνθετη αντίσταση και ο συντελεστής κεραίας των φ/β συστημάτων. Με βάση αυτήν την έρευνα προτείνεται μια εργαστηριακή εγκατάσταση με προσομοιωτή δικτύου με συνθετη αντίσταση γραμμής συνεχούς ρεύματος . Η έρευνα για άλλες απαιτήσεις, σχετικά με τους αντιστροφείς όσον αφορά τις παρεμβολές σε γραμμές εναλασσόμενου ρεύματος και τις αρμονικές, έχουν οδηγήσει σε πολλές νέες βελτιώσεις και προτάσεις σχετικά με την οργάνωση των δοκιμών και τα εφαρμόσιμα όρια. Οι έρευνες συνοδεύτηκαν από μια σειρά δοκιμών που διενεργήθηκαν σε διάφορους αντιστροφείς, για σύνδεση με δίκτυο, αντιστροφείς για αυτόνομα συστήματα και ρυθμιστές φόρτισης μπαταριών. Μεταξύ των άλλων θα μπορούσε να αποδειχθεί ότι ένας σημαντικός αριθμός αντιστροφέων διαθέσιμος σήμερα στην αγορά παράγει σήματα σε ραδιοσυχνότητες που ξεπερνούν τα όρια αντοχής των οικιακών συσκευών. Ένα είδος παρέμβασης είναι σήματα που εκπέμπονται στις γραμμές συνεχούς ρευματος από τους αντιστροφείς, και μπορούν να οδηγήσουν στη δημιουργεία σημαντικών ηλεκτρομαγνητικών πεδίων. Η εργασία που πραγματοποιήθηκε από την arsenal research επικεντρώθηκε γύρω από την επεξεργασία των νέων απαιτήσεων ασφάλειας για τα Φ/Β συστήματα. Ερευνήθηκαν επίσης όλες οι πιθανές διαταραχές που μπορούν να προκληθούν: υπερτάσεις λόγω βραχυκυκλωμάτων και διακοπτικών ενεργειών, υψηλές αρμονικές στο κύκλωμα εξόδου του αντιστροφέα, εργαστηριακές μετρήσεις των διαταραχών λόγω επαγωγής, κτλ. Διάφοροι μέθοδοι και μετρήσεις αναπτύχθηκαν για να αποφευχθούν αυτές οι διαταραχές ή για να επιτευχθεί το απαραίτητο επίπεδο ασφάλειας. Με βάση τις έρευνες έχουν αναπτυχθεί πλέον νέοι μέθοδοι δοκιμών και νέα κυκλώματα δοκιμών και επιπλέον προτείνονται νέες οδηγίες ασφάλειας.Αυτή η εργασία ολοκληρώθηκε με πρόσθετες δοκιμές που εκτελέσθηκαν σε αναστροφείς για παράλληλη λειτουργία δικτύου και ρυθμιστές φόρτισης μπαταριών. Αποτελέσματα ορισμένων δοκιμών είναι: a) Οι υψηλές διαταραχές στις συχνότητες των γραμμών εναλλασσόμενου ρεύματος σε φάσμα συχνότητας 10kHz - 150kHz. b) Πολλοί αντιστροφείς είναι πάρα πολύ ευαίσθητοι έναντι των σημάτων ελέγχου (200Hz - 3kHz). c) Το επαγωγικό μέρος του δικτύου μπορεί να οδηγήσει σε υψηλές αρμονικές στο κύκλωμα εξόδου του αντιστροφέα. d) ρεύματα μπορούν να οδηγήσουν σε μια σημαντική μείωση της τάσης παραγωγής των αντιστροφέων κάτι που αποτελεί κίνδυνο για συνδεδεμένους καταναλωτές. / In this project electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and safety aspects of PV systems have been investigated in detail. The conclusions from these researches will contribute in the improvement and the creation of models with regard to the EMC and the safety of systems. The main topics covered by the project are: -inquiries concerning the electromagnetic environment (e.g. impact of lightning, measurements in low-voltage network and overvoltages manipulation.) -researches concerning emissions (scrambled area radio frequencies and conducted interference on mains and DC lines). -researches aimed at the formulation of safety requirements. The common safety tests versus lightening surge are based on outdated data and do not reflect the actual force. To overcome this situation in concern with the indirect lightening surge in PV systems, a research was performed, at an experimental station installed at a location with a high natural lightening rate (Ng). An important result of the measurement is that the call of the front of the lightning surge is on average 4 times higher than the standard pulse power 1.2/50 μs. A system of analysis autonomous PV systems used on the island of Fuerteventura and carried out by the EnEtica, arsenal research and ISET has presented a variety of problems with regard to the PV systems. Among them are problems with overcurrents and short circuits, radio broadcast, Harmonics, climatic influence (covered by sand and erosion), and more. The results of these surveys used to emphasize the need for new tests in some electronic parts of PV systems. Measurements for the low-voltage network have been carried out by the EAM. At first, was given an overview of the characteristics of the low-voltage network in terms of fluctuations of the voltage, harmonic analysis, impedance, and other parameters. The main attention of the investigation of ISET focused on the interference of PV systems in radio frequencies. A result of these investigations is the impedance and the antenna factor of PV systems. In addition with this survey was proposed a lab network Simulator installation with advanced DC line impedance. The investigation of other requirements concerning inverters with regard to interferences in AC lines and harmonics, have led to many new improvements and proposals concerning the Organization of the tests and the applicable limits. The investigations have been accompanied by a series of tests carried out on various inverters, for connection to a network, inverters for stand-alone systems and regulators battery chargers. From these investigations was proved that a significant number of inverters which are available on the market today produces on radio frequencies which go beyond resistance of household appliances. A type of interference is signals emitted by inverters on the lines and can lead to important electromagnetic fields. The work performed at arsenal research was concentrated around the elaboration of new immunity and safety requirements for PV systems. Analysis was made for all the possible disturbances likely to cause: surge due to short circuits and switching actions, high harmonics in the circuit of the inverter, laboratory measurements of the disturbances due to induction, etc. Various methods and measurements were developed to avoid these disorders, or in order to achieve the necessary level of security. Using the results of the investigations have been developed new methods of testing and new testing circuits and in addition are proposed new directives for security. This task was completed with additional tests carried out in inverters for parallel network operation and regulators battery chargers. Results of certain tests are: a) High disturbances in the frequencies of AC lines in range of frequency 10 kHz-150kHz b) Many inverters are very sensitive to the trade signals (200Hz-3 kHz) c) The inductive part of the net may lead to high harmonics in the output of the inverter circuit. d) impact currents can lead to a significant reduction in the production of the inverter’s voltage which constitutes a risk for linked consumers. Pilot PV systems have been created by the cooperation of ISET, and EnEtica. These systems are used to demonstrate and to investigate the EMC of PV systems (System ISET), the safety requirements (arsenal system) and problems that are created specifically for distributed PV systems in different areas. (System EnEtica).

The report Genomlysning branschstandard för fuktsäker byggprocess (translated as “Reviewof the industry standard for moisture-proof construction process”) is produced by a group ofpeople who represent different actors within the construction sector. These actors are wellacquainted with the industry standard ByggaF (an abbreviation of “building moisture-proof”),which is a method for moisture safe design. The report states that the moisture safety design isthe part in the industry standard ByggaF that works the worst.The report mentions that there are many indications that the moisture safety design will beelevated from general advice to regulation (requirement) in the upcoming BBR (Boverket’sbuilding regulations). The purpose and goal of this paper is to examine how this elevationwould affect the actors, i.e. the designers, and their work.The paper comprises two parts. The first is a literature study that aims to give the reader ageneral theoretical understanding of current regulations, the moisture problem and theconstruction process and more specifically describe moisture safety design, the industrystandard ByggaF, the system documentation phase (systemhandlingsskedet) and the newbuilding regulations. The second part is a survey consisting of a questionnaire of 20 questionssent to architects and constructors. The questionnaire consists of four parts: Professionalbackground, Moisture knowledge, Moisture safety design and Viewpoints. The first three partsaim to obtain general information about the professional background of the participatingactors, what moisture knowledge they consider themselves to possess and how they work withmoisture safety design. In the last part, the actors give their views on the change from generaladvice to regulation.The result of the last part of the questionnaire, viewpoints, was mainly used in combinationwith the literature study to answer the questions asked in this paper. To summarise, themajority of the actors are positive about the elevation. It will force affected parties and actorsto take the moisture problem seriously. Actors will be able to justify their moisture-proofdesigns more easily as a result. This will lead to increased competence among the actors, butalso demands of greater knowledge from them. As a regulation, the moisture safety design willclarify and simplify the daily work as there is no room for misinterpretation and neglect. As aresult, moisture safety design will become more efficient.

I alla byggprojekt som behandlas är arkitekter och brandkonsulter två viktiga aktörer. Arkitekternas huvudsyfte är att ge människor ett gestaltningsmässigt intryck av en byggnad, men även att ge den ett praktiskt och tryggt användande. Brand-konsulternas roll är bland annat att hjälpa arkitekterna med den del som innefattar brandsäkerhet. Idag är samarbetet mellan arkitekter och brandkonsulter inte optimalt men det finns enkla förändringar som skulle effektivisera arbetsmetodiken. Detta examensarbete har resulterat i en lathund gällande brandprojektering som riktar sig till arkitekter. Lathunden baseras på kapitlet om brandskydd i Boverkets Byggregler (BBR), de omfattande handböckerna som används vid projektering samt statistik gällande de vanligaste problemen mellan aktörerna idag. Underlaget baserar vi på enkätundersökningar, intervjuer samt litteraturstudier. Lathunden syftar till att bli ett tydligare verktyg för arkitekterna, till skillnad mot de handböcker som används idag. Vi tar även fram alternativ och förslag för möjliga förbättringar gällande brandprojektering. Detta resulterar i en ekonomisk och tidsmässig vinst för inblandade parter. / Two important roles in all construction projects active today are the architects and the fire consultants. The architect´s main purpose is to give people a strong esthetic impression of the building but at the same time make it practical and safe for people to use. The fire consultant’s role is to help and support the architects to make the building safe to use, considering fire safety. This collaboration is not as effective as it could be in the current situation, and a few easy changes can be made to improve this working methodology. This bachelor thesis results in a lighter manual regarding fire planning, addressed to architects. The manual is based on the chapter in Boverkets Byggregler (BBR), which regulates the fire planning, the heavier handbooks that are being used today and also statistics regarding the most common difficulties between the two roles. The statistics are based on basic questionnaire surveys, interviews and literature studies. The manual will be a clearer tool for the architects, compared to the handbooks that are being used today. We are also going to introduce some alternatives and suggestions for possible improvements to the fire planning. This will result in a financial and temporal win for all parties involved.

Fuktskador uppstår vanligtvis på grund av felaktig planering, projektering och utförande under hela byggprocessen. Dessa felaktigheter resulterar i stora åtgärdskostnader som kan minimeras eller till och med elimineras om fuktsäkerhetsarbetet är väl genomförd. Projekteringsskedet är ett viktigt skede, där en noggrann och korrekt genomförd fuktsäkerhetsprojektering är av stor betydelse för det försatta fuktsäkerhetsarbetet under byggprocessen. Projektörernas roll i detta skede är att utföra en fuktsäkerhetsprojektering utifrån de ställda kraven från byggherren.  Syftet med detta examensarbete är att ta reda på projektörernas val av metod vid genomförandet av fuktsäkerhetsprojektering och granska om behovet av eventuell kompetensutveckling, inom fukt, bland projektörerna är nödvändig.     De två metoder som har använts för att uppnå syftet i detta examensarbete är intervjuer och litteraturstudier.  Målgruppen i detta examensarbete är byggföretagen i Sverige. Det som granskas är hur de hanterar fuktsäkerhetsarbetet i projekteringsskedet, med fokus på hur fuktsäkerhetsprojekteringen utförs. Av de aktörer som medverkar i projekteringsskedet riktas all fokus på projektörerna.   Tre av fem projektörer är missnöjda med den egna fuktkompetensen vilket överensstämmer med de fuktsakkunnigas uppfattning om projektörernas fuktkompetens. Under intervjuerna har flera fuktsakkunniga påpekat behovet av ökat fuktkompetens bland projektörerna. Den bristande fuktkompetensen leder till att projektörerna inte kan beakta eller upptäcka eventuella fuktrisker vid fuktsäkerhetsprojekteringen. Metod som 80 % av projektörerna tillämpar vid fuktsäkerhetsprojektering är ByggaF metoden. Projektörerna kunskap om ByggaF är fortfarande låg enligt de fuktsakkunniga och av den anledningen kan projektörerna inte tillämpa ByggaF metoden i sin helhet. Kompetens och erfarenhet är de viktigaste faktorerna som en projektör måste ha med sig, för att kunna beakta och upptäcka vad som är fel krävs det kunskap samt erfarenhet om vad som är rätt.        Utifrån responsen från både byggnadsnämnden och deltagarna, framgår det att en granskning av dokumentationen gällande fuktsäkerhetsarbetet inte, alltid, begärs in av byggnadsnämnden.    Slutsatsen är att projektörer måste införskaffa sig kompetens inom fukt och ByggaF metoden. / Moisture damage usually occurs due to incorrect planning, design and execution throughout the construction process. These inaccuracies result in large cost of action that can be minimized or even eliminated if the moisture safety work is done properly. The design phase is an important stage and a properly implemented moisture safety design can be of great importance for the moisture safety work during the construction process. The planners’ role at this stage is to carry out a moisture safety work based on the requirements of the developer. The purpose of this exam is to find out the choice of method made by the planners’ in the implementation of moisture safety design and to review the need of competence development among the planners’ about moisture.    The two methods that have been used to achieve the purpose of this exam are interviews and literature studies. The target group in this exam is the construction companies in Sweden. The way of how the companies handle of moisture safety design is being reviewed in the design stage.  Of all involved actors in the design phase, the focus is on the planners'. Three out of five planners' are dissatisfied with their own moisture competence, which is in line with the opinion of the experts' of moisture about the planners' competence.   During the interviews, several experts' of moisture have pointed out the need for increased moisture competence among the planners'. The lack competence means that the planners' cannot consider or detect possible moisture risks during the moisture safety design. The method that is used by 80% of the planners' during moisture safety design is the ByggaF method. The planners' knowledge of ByggaF is still low according to the experts' of moisture and for this reason the planners' cannot apply entirely the ByggaF method. The tools that planners' need to have with them is knowledge and experience. In order to discover what is wrong, you need to have both the knowledge and experience about what is right.  Based on the response from both the building committee and the participants, a review of the documentation regarding the moisture safety work is not always requested by the building committee.  The conclusion is that projectors must acquire competence in both moisture and the ByggaF method.

The present research work has been carried out to develop a unified knowledge-based hybrid methodology combining regression-based, lumped parameter and finite element analyses that can be implemented in the initial phase of vehicle design resulting in a superior side crash performance. As a first step, a regression-based model (RBM) is developed between the injury parameter Thoracic Trauma Index (TTI) of the rear SID and characteristic side impact dynamic response variables such as rear door velocity (final) and intrusion supplementing an existing RBM for front TTI prediction. In order to derive the rear TTI RBM, existing public domain vehicle crash test data provided by NHTSA has been used. A computer-based tool with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) has been developed for obtaining possible solution sets of response variables satisfying the regression relations for both front and rear TTI. As a next step in the formulation of the present hybrid methodology for vehicle side impact safety design, a new Lumped Parameter Model (LPM) representing NHTSA side impact is developed. The LPM developed consists of body sub-systems like B-pillar, front door, rear door and rocker (i.e. sill) on the struck side of the vehicle, MDB, and “rest of the vehicle” as lumped masses along with representative nonlinear springs between them. It has been envisaged that for the initial conceptual design to progress, the targets of dynamic response variables obtained from RBM should yield a set of spring characteristics broadly defining the required vehicle side structure. However, this is an inverse problem of dynamics which would require an inordinate amount of time to be solved iteratively. Hence a knowledge-based approach is adopted here to link the two sets of variables i.e., the dynamic response parameters (such as average door and B-pillar velocities, door intrusion, etc.) and the stiffness and strength characteristics of the springs present in LPM. In effect, this mapping is accomplished with the help of an artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm (referred to as ANN_RBM_LPM in the current work). To generate the required knowledge database for ANN_RBM_LPM, one thousand cases of LPM chosen with the help of the Latin Hypercube technique are run with varying spring characteristics. The goal of finding the desired design solutions describing vehicle geometry in an efficient manner is accomplished with the help of a second ANN algorithm which links sets of dynamic spring characteristics with sets of sectional properties of doors, B-pillar and rocker (referred as ANN_LPM_FEM in the current work). The implementation of this approach requires creation of a knowledge database containing paired sets of spring characteristics and sectional details just mentioned. The effectiveness of the hybrid methodology comprising both ANN_RBM_LPM and ANN_LPM_FEM is finally illustrated by improving the side impact performance of a Honda Accord finite element model. Thus, the unique knowledge-based hybrid approach developed here can be deployed in real world vehicle safety design for both new and existing vehicles leading to enormous saving of time and costly design iterations.

Hat sections, single and double, made of steel are frequently encountered in automotive body structural components such as front rails, B-Pillar, and rockers of unitized-body cars. These thin-walled components can play a significant role in terms of crashworthiness and impact energy absorption, through a nonlinear phenomenon called as progressive dynamic buckling. As modern vehicle safety design relies heavily on computer-aided engineering, there is a great need for analysis-based predictions to yield close correlation with test results. Although hat sections subjected to axial loading have been studied widely in the past, there is scanty information in published literature on modeling procedures that can lead to robust prediction of test responses. In the current study, both single-hat and double-hat components made of mild steel are studied extensively experimentally and numerically to quantify statistical variations in test responses such as peak load, mean load and energy absorption, and formulate modeling conditions for capturing elasto-plastic material behavior, strain rate sensitivity, spot-welds, etc. that can lead to robust predictions of force-time and force-displacement histories as well as failure modes. In addition, keeping initial stages of vehicle design in mind, the effectiveness of soft computing techniques based on polynomial regression analysis, radial basis functions and artificial neural networks for quick assessment of the behaviors of steel hat sections has been demonstrated. The study is extended to double-hat sections subjected to eccentric impact loading which has not been previously reported. A lightweight enhancement of load carrying capacity of steel hat section components has been investigated with PU (polyurethane) foam-filled single and double hat sections, and subjecting the same to quasi-static and axial impact loading. Good predictions of load-displacement responses are again obtained and shortening of fold lengths vis-à-vis hollow sections is observed. Finally, the performance of hat sections made of glass fiber-reinforced composites is studied as a potential lightweight substitute to steel hat section components. The challenging task of numerical prediction of the behaviors of the composite hat sections has been undertaken using a consistent modeling and analysis procedure described earlier and by choosing an appropriate constitutive behavior available in the popular explicit contact-impact analysis solver, LS-DYNA.

In recent times, light gauge cold-formed steel sections have been used extensively in residential, industrial and commercial buildings as primary load bearing structural components. This is because cold-formed steel sections have a very high strength to weight ratio compared with thicker hot-rolled steel sections, and their manufacturing process is simple and cost-effective. However, these members are susceptible to various buckling modes including local and distortional buckling and their ultimate strength behaviour is governed by these buckling modes. Fire safety design of building structures has received greater attention in recent times due to continuing loss of properties and lives during fires. Hence, there is a need to fully evaluate the performance of light gauge cold-formed steel structures under fire conditions. Past fire research has focused heavily on heavier, hot-rolled steel members. The buckling behaviour of light gauge cold-formed steel members under fire conditions is not well understood. The buckling effects associated with thin steels are significant and have to be taken into account in fire safety design. Therefore, a research project based on extensive experimental and numerical studies was undertaken at the Queensland University of Technology to investigate the distortional buckling behaviour of light gauge cold-formed steel compression members under simulated fire conditions. As the first phase of this research program more than 115 tensile coupon tests of light gauge cold-formed steels including two steel grades and five thicknesses were conducted at elevated temperatures. Accurate mechanical properties including the yield strength, elasticity modulus and stress-strain curves were all determined at elevated temperatures since the deterioration of the mechanical properties is one of the major parameters in the structural design under fire conditions. An appropriate stress-strain model was also developed by considering the inelastic characteristics. The results obtained from the tensile coupon tests were then used to predict the ultimate strength of cold-formed steel compression members. In the second phase of this research more than 170 laboratory experiments were undertaken to investigate the distortional buckling behaviour of light gauge coldformed steel compression members at ambient and elevated temperatures. Two types of cross sections were selected with various thicknesses (nominal thicknesses are 0.6, 0.8, and 0.95 mm) and both low and high strength steels (G250 and G550 steels with minimum yield strengths of 250 and 550 MPa). The experiments were conducted at six different temperatures in the range of 20 to 800°C. A finite element model of the tested compression members was then developed and validated with the help of experimental results. The degradation of mechanical properties with increasing temperatures was included in finite element analyses. An extensive series of parametric analyses was undertaken using the validated finite element model to investigate the effect of all the influential parameters such as section geometry, steel thickness and grade, mechanical properties and temperature. The resulting large data base of ultimate loads of compression members subject to distortional buckling was then used to review the adequacy of the current design rules at ambient temperature. The current design rules were reasonably accurate in general, but in order to improve the accuracy further, this research has developed new design equations to determine the ultimate loads of compression members at ambient temperature. The developed equation was then simply modified by including the relevant mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. It was found that this simple modification based on reduced mechanical properties gave reasonable results, but not at higher temperatures. Therefore, they were further modified to obtain a more accurate design equation at elevated temperatures. The accuracy of new design rules was then verified by comparing their predictions with the results obtained from the parametric study. This thesis presents a description of the experimental and numerical studies undertaken in this research and the results including comparison with simply modified current design rules. It describes the laboratory experiments at ambient and elevated temperatures. It also describes the finite element models of cold-formed steel compression members developed in this research that included the appropriate mechanical properties, initial geometric imperfections and residual stresses. Finally, it presents the details of the new design equations proposed for the light gauge coldformed steel compression members subjected to distortional buckling effects at elevated temperatures.

Cold-formed steel members have been widely used in residential, industrial and commercial buildings as primary load bearing structural elements and non-load bearing structural elements (partitions) due to their advantages such as higher strength to weight ratio over the other structural materials such as hot-rolled steel, timber and concrete. Cold-formed steel members are often made from thin steel sheets and hence they are more susceptible to various buckling modes. Generally short columns are susceptible to local or distortional buckling while long columns to flexural or flexural-torsional buckling. Fire safety design of building structures is an essential requirement as fire events can cause loss of property and lives. Therefore it is essential to understand the fire performance of light gauge cold-formed steel structures under fire conditions. The buckling behaviour of cold-formed steel compression members under fire conditions is not well investigated yet and hence there is a lack of knowledge on the fire performance of cold-formed steel compression members. Current cold-formed steel design standards do not provide adequate design guidelines for the fire design of cold-formed steel compression members. Therefore a research project based on extensive experimental and numerical studies was undertaken at the Queensland University of Technology to investigate the buckling behaviour of light gauge cold-formed steel compression members under simulated fire conditions. As the first phase of this research, a detailed review was undertaken on the mechanical properties of light gauge cold-formed steels at elevated temperatures and the most reliable predictive models for mechanical properties and stress-strain models based on detailed experimental investigations were identified. Their accuracy was verified experimentally by carrying out a series of tensile coupon tests at ambient and elevated temperatures. As the second phase of this research, local buckling behaviour was investigated based on the experimental and numerical investigations at ambient and elevated temperatures. First a series of 91 local buckling tests was carried out at ambient and elevated temperatures on lipped and unlipped channels made of G250-0.95, G550-0.95, G250-1.95 and G450-1.90 cold-formed steels. Suitable finite element models were then developed to simulate the experimental conditions. These models were converted to ideal finite element models to undertake detailed parametric study. Finally all the ultimate load capacity results for local buckling were compared with the available design methods based on AS/NZS 4600, BS 5950 Part 5, Eurocode 3 Part 1.2 and the direct strength method (DSM), and suitable recommendations were made for the fire design of cold-formed steel compression members subject to local buckling. As the third phase of this research, flexural-torsional buckling behaviour was investigated experimentally and numerically. Two series of 39 flexural-torsional buckling tests were undertaken at ambient and elevated temperatures. The first series consisted 2800 mm long columns of G550-0.95, G250-1.95 and G450-1.90 cold-formed steel lipped channel columns while the second series contained 1800 mm long lipped channel columns of the same steel thickness and strength grades. All the experimental tests were simulated using a suitable finite element model, and the same model was used in a detailed parametric study following validation. Based on the comparison of results from the experimental and parametric studies with the available design methods, suitable design recommendations were made. This thesis presents a detailed description of the experimental and numerical studies undertaken on the mechanical properties and the local and flexural-torsional bucking behaviour of cold-formed steel compression member at ambient and elevated temperatures. It also describes the currently available ambient temperature design methods and their accuracy when used for fire design with appropriately reduced mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. Available fire design methods are also included and their accuracy in predicting the ultimate load capacity at elevated temperatures was investigated. This research has shown that the current ambient temperature design methods are capable of predicting the local and flexural-torsional buckling capacities of cold-formed steel compression members at elevated temperatures with the use of reduced mechanical properties. However, the elevated temperature design method in Eurocode 3 Part 1.2 is overly conservative and hence unsuitable, particularly in the case of flexural-torsional buckling at elevated temperatures.