Thermal Analysis of a Steel Section (I-Profile)

Introduction

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This tutorial deals with a Thermal Analysis of a Steel Section I-profile. The geometry of the cross section is entered graphically via cross-section editor CSE in SOFiPLUS.

Note

A basic SOFiSTiK knowledge is required for this tutorial. Inside this tutorial we show only the project specific workflows, which are different from the basic workflow.

Objectives

  • Starting a new project

  • Define Materials

  • Define Cross Section via CSE

  • Define Fire Load via Thermal Analysis

Project Description

Steel Section - Temperature Distribution

Steel Section - Temperature Distribution (click to enlarge)

Material

Number

Title

Class

1

Structural Steel

S 235

Cross sections

Number

Title

Dimensions

1

Rolled Steel

HEB 300

Design code

This tutorial is based on Eurocode DIN EN 1993.

Step by Step Instructions

Project Overview

  • Create a new SSD project based on DIN EN 1993

  • Create the required materials

  • Create a new solid cross section with task Cross Sections ‣ New Solid Section ‣ Composite or Steel

  • Generate Cross Section inside SOFiPLUS with Cross Section Editor

    • Insert a standard rolled steel profile into the current section

    • For Fire Design you have to save the mesh in a subdirectory

    • Save the section

  • In SSD insert the task Thermal Analysis

  • Define fire curve, time, protection class, etc.

  • With OK you can start the thermal analysis

Starting a new project

See chapter Start New Project in General Workflow description.

Defining materials

Generate all necessary materials listed above. Follow the procedures explained in chapter Material Definition in General Workflow description.

Defining cross sections

The steel section will be defined graphically with the cross-section editor in task_sofiplus_small SOFiPLUS(-X).

Cross Sections -> New Solid Section -> Composite or Steel

Insert Cross Section - New Solid Section

Insert Cross Section - New Solid Section (click to enlarge)

task_sofiplus_small SOFiPLUS(-X) will open and you are asked to provide a name and define the material for the section:

New Solid Section - Section Properties - General

New Solid Section - Section Properties - General (click to enlarge)

To enable the section for thermal analysis, it is necessary to save the mesh in a subdirectory.

New Solid Section - Section Properties - Analytical Parameters

New Solid Section - Section Properties - Analytical Parameters (click to enlarge)

After setting up the cross section properties, insert a standard Rolled Steel Shapes profile into the current section.

New Rolled Steel Shapes

New Rolled Steel Shapes (click to enlarge)

Insertion point is (0.00, 0.00)

|SOF+| - Cross Section Editor

task_sofiplus_small SOFiPLUS(-X) - Cross Section Editor (click to enlarge)

Note

For I-profiles there are already predefined flammable edges (Z-,Z+,Y-…). For other steel profiles, these edges still need to be defined.

Edge Property Set of Cross Section

Edge Property Set of Cross Section (click to enlarge)

Defining fire load via thermal analysis

In SSD insert the task Thermal Analysis. Then define the fire curve, time, protection class, etc.

GUI Thermal Analysis

GUI Thermal Analysis (click to enlarge)

With OK you can start the thermal analysis. The result of calculation is now available in the Report.

Report Thermal Analysis - Temperature Profile

Report Thermal Analysis - Temperature Profile (click to enlarge)

Since version 2020 it is now possible to check the graphical results (GRAPHIC) of the subsystem directly.

Graphic Thermal Analysis - Temperature Profile

Graphic Thermal Analysis - Temperature Profile (click to enlarge)