Stability and Integrity of Cold-formed Steel Mid-rise Building in Post-Earthquake Fire

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Following its great success in North America, the worldwide trend of applying cold-formed steel framing in residential and commercial building construction is advancing to mid-rise buildings up to nine storeys, particularly in seismic regions, where such buildings traditionally have relied on heavier construction materials. Historically, risks associated with fire following a strong earthquake are very high (1906 San Francisco, 1923 Tokyo, 1989 Loma Prieta, 1994 Northridge and 1995 Kobe), posing a major threat to public safety and property in seismic regions. Buildings are currently designed to conform to modern building codes treating earthquakes and fires as separate hazards, and fire safety is based on the assumption of the integrity and normal performance of fireproofing and structural system. In the case of post-earthquake fire, both systems can be damaged in an earthquake; therefore, the structural resistances to subsequent fires can be seriously degraded. The objective of the research proposed is to develop a practical and advanced methodology for assessing the stability and integrity of cold-formed steel (CFS) structures in post-earthquake fire. It should be noted that no research in this area has been carried out in the past. As the proposed research addresses a serious issue that modern building codes, like the National Building Code of Canada, have not appropriately addressed, the importance of the research is to enhance the life-safety performance of the structures, including improved protection against catastrophic collapse to safeguard the safety of the public as well as that of rescue workers and firefighters in the event of post-earthquake fire. Canadians and people elsewhere in the world, particularly those in seismic regions, will benefit from having significantly safer building environments in which to live and work. Considering the high catastrophic consequences of fire following earthquakes, research concerning the design of mid-rise CFS buildings to guard against post-earthquake fire is imperative and far overdue in Canada. This research will develop HQPs with the skills required to address technical and social challenges of significant importance to the life, safety and property of Canadians.