High temperature properties of hot-rolled, structural steels for use in fire engineering design studies

An extensive programme of small-scale tensile tests has been carried out under both steady-state and transient heating conditions to provide elevated temperature data on the behaviour of hot-rolled, structural steels for use in fire engineering design studies. It has been demonstrated that predictions on the behaviour of structural steels at small strains from data derived under steady-state conditions are optimistic and information should preferably be used from transient tests. However, when temperatures and stresses corresponding to strains approaching ‘runaway’ or the ‘limit of deflection’ are compared, then there is negligible difference between the minimum properties derived from either type of test. Tables of data are provided in a form suitable for use in fire engineering calculations.