Numerical analysis of fire effects on beam structures

A known finite element model is significantly enriched in order to take into consideration the variations of material parameters that are provoked by elevated temperatures due to fire environment. On the basis of this ‘heterogeneity acquired model’ a numerical iterative procedure is implemented that permits to describe the performances of beam structures exposed to fire. Efficiency of the proposed model and relevant procedure are shown by some numerical results which are partly and successfully compared with experimental ones obtained by other researchers.