Influence of loading ratio on flat slab connections at elevated temperature: A numerical study

For reinforced concrete members subjected to high temperature, the degree of in-service loading, commonly expressed as the loading ratio, can be highly influential on the structural behavior. In particular, the loading ratio may be pivotal in relation to the phenomenon of load-induced thermal strain. Despite its potentially pivotal role, to date, the influence of the loading ratio on both material and structural behavior has not been explored in detail. In practice, real structures experience variation in imposed loading during their service life and it is important to understand the likely response at elevated temperatures across the loading envelope. In this paper, the effect of the loading ratio is numerically investigated at both material and structural level using a validated finite element model. The model incorporates a proposed constitutive model accounting for load-induced thermal strain and this is shown to outperform the existing Eurocode 2 model in terms of accuracy. Using the validated model, the specific case of flats slabs and the associated connections to supporting columns at various loading ratios are explored. For the cases examined, a marked difference in the structural behavior including displacement direction was captured from low to high loading ratios consistent with experimental observations.