FE modelling for response of slim floor systems in fire and effects of intumescent coating

Slim floor systems are one of the trending forms of constructions and are gaining popularity in various countries around the world. Several forms of slim floor have been introduced and are being used. Popularity of the slim floor systems is attributed to their ease of construction when combined with steel decking and precast flooring, their shallower depths and savings in economy. Significant experimental work on their fire behaviour has been conducted during last four decades and is still in progress. This paper presents an analytical approach to study the thermal response of slim floor beams with an applied fire protection. For this purpose, a fire test conducted on an unprotected slim floor beam and on a specimen with intumescent coating is modelled using different simulation FE programs and results are compared with test data. The validated models are combined to study the behaviour of slim floor beam with protection applied on the exposed lower flange. Section factor of selected beam is similar to that of the test specimen with intumescent coating. Results from the analysis show that the approach used is adequate to perform the thermal analysis of slim floor beams with and without a fire protection.