Collaborative Research: Fire Damage Mitigation and Post-Fire Evaluation of Steel Girder Bridges

该合作研究项目的总体目标是通过对钢梁桥系统在火灾中的性能进行基本了解，开发一种合理的桥梁火灾安全评估方法。 近年来，桥梁火灾问题越来越受到人们的关注。 钢桥极易受到火灾的破坏，甚至倒塌，因为钢在高温下会失去其强度和刚度。 具体目标是（1）确定影响火灾中桥梁易损性的参数，（2）建议减轻火灾破坏性影响的方法，（3）制定基于火灾风险的桥梁分类定性策略，以及（4）确定火灾后剩余强度。 实验和数值研究将通过普林斯顿大学和密歇根州立大学之间的合作进行。 这项研究将开发必要的基础知识，以推进桥梁消防安全规定，它将开发实践工程师需要在桥梁火灾事件后做出快速明智的决定的实用知识。 将制定减轻钢桥梁火灾引起的倒塌的指导方针。制定的指导方针预计将导致最佳和防火安全的设计，不仅经济，而且基于合理的设计原则。 目前，桥梁设计法规提供了关于如何设计地震等荷载的详细规范，但关于如何设计桥梁以应对严重火灾的信息相对较少。 这项研究将形成的基础上，制定设计准则，以提供更好的消防安全，并有助于美国规范和标准的发展，处理火灾的桥梁。 PI将通过出版物和研讨会和会议上的演示向执业工程师传播这项工作。 该项目还将通过研究生参与本项目的研究活动，就火灾对结构的影响这一专题向他们提供高级培训。

The overall objective of this collaborative research project is to develop a rational approach to bridge fire safety assessment by developing a fundamental understanding of the performance of steel girder bridge systems when exposed to fire. In recent years there has been a growing concern regarding fire hazard in bridges. Steel bridges are highly susceptible to fire induced damage and even collapse, since steel loses its strength and stiffness at high temperatures. The specific objectives are to (1) determine the parameters that affect the bridge vulnerability in a fire, (2) recommend means for mitigating the destructive effects of fire, (3) develop a qualitative strategy for classifying bridges based on fire risk, and (4) determine the post-fire residual strength. Experimental and numerical studies will be performed through collaboration between Princeton University and Michigan State University. This research will develop fundamental knowledge that is necessary to move forward with bridge fire safety provisions, and it will develop practical knowledge that practicing engineers need to make fast informed decisions after a bridge fire event. Guidelines will be developed for mitigating fire-induced collapse in steel bridge girders.The guidelines developed are expected to lead to optimum and fire safe designs that are not only economical but are also based on rational design principles. Currently, bridge design regulations provide detailed specifications about how to design for loads such as earthquakes, but relatively much less information is available on how to design a bridge for a severe fire. This research will form the basis for developing design guidelines to provide improved fire safety and contribute to the development of US codes and standards dealing with the fire hazard in bridge girders. The PIs will disseminate this work to practicing engineers though publications and presentations at seminars and conferences. The project will also provide advanced training to graduate students on the topic of fire effects on structures through their involvement in the research activities of this project.