Experimental Analysis of Stability of Aluminium Beams in Case of Fire

Fire is often the dominant design criterion for aluminium structures. Present design rules for aluminium constructions in fire neglect both the decrease in susceptibility to local buckling and the effects of creep, that are intrinsic to aluminium. They may therefore either overestimate or underestimate the temperature of failure, depending on the load and exposure period. As part of a larger research program aimed at remedying this situation, the present paper reports the results of an experimental study on 28 aluminium SHS members of alloy AA6060-T66 loaded in bending, with different cross-sections, temperatures, and rates of heating. The experimental set-up employs an electric heating tube or ‘sock’ on the inside of the specimen as well as heated supports and load application point, which give a high degree of control of temperature in time.