Title:
Performance-Based Fire Design of Concrete Plenum over Train Tracks
Author(s):
Luciana Balsamo
Publication:
Web Session
Volume:
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
3/23/2022
Abstract:
Thornton Tomasetti redesigned a deteriorated concrete plenum over train tracks passing below an existing building. We followed a performance-based approach to structural-fire safety and evaluated the replacement plenum structure in the event of a train fire. The capacity of the plenum structure (lightweight concrete slab and the supporting steel tube hangers) was evaluated under the effect of the extreme-event load combination per ASCE 7-16. We explicitly analyzed the reduction in strength of the structural steel, reinforcing steel and lightweight concrete at elevated temperatures and considered changes to concrete mix design to reduce spalling in case of fire. Our final design is able to resist a train fire for one hour without failure.