This paper presents the findings of an experimental research to investigate the\nperformance of axially restrained elliptical hollow (EHS) steel columns subjected\nto severe hydrocarbon fire. The test programme involved 12 steel columns\npresenting 2 oval sections 200 Ã?â?? 100 Ã?â?? 8 mm and 300 Ã?â?? 150 Ã?â?? 8 mm and\nyielding 2 slenderness Ã?» = 51 and 33. The 1800 mm columns were tested under\nloading ratios ranging between 0.2 and 0.6 of the ultimate strength determined\nusing EC3 and under axial restraint degree ranging from 0 to 0.16.\nThe obtained results of axial displacements, lateral displacements, measured\nrestraint forces, and high temperatures are presented in the paper. It was\nfound that introducing restraint to the columns with elliptical section produces\nhigh restraint forces which reduce the time to lose lateral stability. This\nis more evident in cases of lower load ratios than the higher load ratios. The\nnumerical study presented in this paper involved building a finite element\nmodel to simulate the columns behaviour in fire. The model was validated\nusing the test results obtained from unrestrained and restrained columns fire\ntests. The model demonstrated good agreement in the prediction of failure\ntimes and failure mechanisms of local and overall buckling. The FEM model\nwas then used to conduct a parametric analysis involving factors of slenderness,\nrestraint and loading. The conclusions drawn for this research are presented\nat the end of the paper.
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