Effects of Wind Speed on the Load-Bearing Performance of Steel Bridges Under Tank Truck Fires

WANG Zhongwen; LI Zhisheng; PENG Yinhui; ZHANG Qinghua; CUI Chuang

doi:10.3724/j.gyjzG24090307

Volume 56 Issue 7

Jul. 2026

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION > 2026 > 56(7): 159-170

WANG Zhongwen, LI Zhisheng, PENG Yinhui, ZHANG Qinghua, CUI Chuang. Effects of Wind Speed on the Load-Bearing Performance of Steel Bridges Under Tank Truck Fires[J]. INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION, 2026, 56(7): 159-170. doi: 10.3724/j.gyjzG24090307

Citation:

WANG Zhongwen, LI Zhisheng, PENG Yinhui, ZHANG Qinghua, CUI Chuang. Effects of Wind Speed on the Load-Bearing Performance of Steel Bridges Under Tank Truck Fires[J]. INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION, 2026, 56(7): 159-170. doi: 10.3724/j.gyjzG24090307

Citation:

PDF( 5026 KB)

Effects of Wind Speed on the Load-Bearing Performance of Steel Bridges Under Tank Truck Fires

doi: 10.3724/j.gyjzG24090307

1. Poly Changda Engineering Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510602, China;
2. Department of Bridge Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China

Received Date: 2024-09-03
Available Online: 2026-08-31
Publish Date: 2026-07-20

Abstract

Abstract

When extreme fires occur in steel bridges in ambient wind field， wind speed influences the fire development process. The study of the fire temperature field and structural response of steel bridges under the effect of multi-hazard coupling， considering the influence of ambient wind field， is a key problem that needs to be solved in the current research on steel bridge fire resistance. This paper calculated the maximum heat release rate of a 50 m³ tank truck fire at different wind speeds based on the background of a 30 m simply-supported steel box girder bridge and the principles of combustion and fire science， combined with FDS numerical simulation. In addition， this paper determined the fire heat release rate curve through the exponential model， analyzed the steel box girder fire temperature field under the action of different wind speeds of tank truck fire through the CFD-FEM coupling method. Finally， it determined the fire resistance limit of the steel bridge under the action of fire through thermal-structure coupling analysis. The analysis showed that when the average wind speed increased from 4.20 m /s to 9.86 m /s， the maximum heat release rate of a 50 m³ tank truck fire increased from 52.436 MW to 104.636 MW with increasing wind speed， and its increment gradually decreased； as the wind speed increased， the fire burning time was reduced to approximately 50% of the original， the flame height gradually decreased and tended to stabilize at 6.75 m （removing the height of the tanker）， the central area of the flame gradually expanded， and the smoke flow tilted downwind. The high-temperature core area on the surface of the steel box girder under the action of a tank truck fire gradually migrated and expanded downwind with the increase of wind speed， and the highest temperature of the steel box girder under different wind speed conditions varied from 600 ℃ to 730 ℃ due to heat conduction， convection， and radiation， and remained basically constant when subjected to fire for about 30-40 min； the mid-span deflection of the main girder under fire conditions at different wind speeds exceeded the limit value. When the wind speed increased from 4.20 m/s to 9.86 m/s， the fire resistance time of the main girder was shortened from 25.7 min to 13.3 min， representing a a reduction of approximately 50%. The steel box girder ultimately failed due to excessive deformation.
- steel bridge,
- tanker truck fire,
- numerical simulation,
- heat release rate,
- heat release rate curve,
- fire temperature field,
- fire resistance time

FullText(HTML)

References(24)

References

[1]	New York State Department of Transportation. Bridge fire incidents in New York state（private correspondence with Prof. M. Garlock）[R]. New York:NYSDT，2011.
[2]	LEE G C，MOHAN S，HUANG C，et al. A study of US bridge failures（1980-2012）[M]. Buffalo，NY:MCEER，2013.
[3]	张岗，贺拴海，宋超杰，等.钢结构桥梁抗火研究综述[J].中国公路学报，2021，34（1）:1-11.
[4]	杨正祥.油罐车火灾作用下公路钢桁梁桥耐火性能研究[D].成都:西南交通大学，2023.
[5]	杨正祥，崔闯，胡文哲，等.铁路钢桥抗火性能和极限承载力研究[J].铁道学报，2023，45（3）:70-79.
[6]	张岗，李徐阳，汤陈皓，等.连续钢箱梁抗火性能试验与演变机理[J].中国公路学报，2023，36（6）:58-70.
[7]	ZHANG G，ZHAO X，LU Z，et al. Review and discussion on fire behavior of bridge girders[J]. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering（English Edition），2022，9（3）:422-446.
[8]	HU J，CARVEL R，USMANI A. Bridge fires in the 21st century:a literature review[J]. Fire Safety Journal，2021，126:103487.
[9]	马庆春，贺雅丽.强风条件下大型储罐火灾的热辐射灾害影响[J].安全与环境学报，2018，18（3）:935-940.
[10]	廖鑫，余萌.火灾下大跨度悬索桥承重构件静力分析[J].中国市政工程，2021（2）:30-34.
[11]	KODUR V，AZIZ E，DWAIKAT M. Evaluating fire resistance of steel girders in bridges[J]. Journal of Bridge Engineering，2013，18（7）:633-643.
[12]	AZIZ E M，KODUR V K，GLASSMAN J D，et al. Behavior of steel bridge girders under fire conditions[J]. Journal of Constructional Steel Research，2015，106:11-22.
[13]	AZIZ E，KODUR V. An approach for evaluating the residual strength of fire exposed bridge girders[J]. Journal of Constructional Steel Research，2013，88:34-42.
[14]	GARLOCK M，PAYA-ZAFORTEZA I，KODUR V，et al. Fire hazard in bridges:review，assessment and repair strategies[J]. Engineering Structures，2012，35:89-98.
[15]	任婕.多因素条件下油罐火燃烧特性研究[D].合肥:中国科学技术大学，2019.
[16]	王莹，王盼.油罐车火灾下的钢桥高温屈曲失稳特性研究[J].西部交通科技，2019（2）:115-120.
[17]	INGASON H，BERGQVIST A，LONNERMARK A，et al. R äddningsinsatser i v ägtunnlar[R]. Karlstad:Swedish Rescue Services Agency（R äddningsverket），2005.
[18]	王德明.矿井火灾学[M].徐州:中国矿业大学出版社，2008.
[19]	郭芳义.不同环境条件下隧道火灾燃烧和烟气运动特性研究[D].合肥:中国科学技术大学，2020.
[20]	CHI J H，PENG P C. Study of the structural safety assessment of steel bridge subjected in post-fire[J]. Construction and Building Materials，2020，247:118587.
[21]	DE BOER J，HOFMEYER H，MALJAARS J，et al. Two-way coupled CFD fire and thermomechanical FE analyses of a self-supporting sandwich panel fa çade system[J]. Fire Safety Journal，2019，105:154-168.
[22]	田伟.武汉鹦鹉洲长江大桥汽车燃烧下高温力学性能与风险防范措施研究[D].武汉:武汉理工大学，2014.
[23]	KAVIANY M，KANURY A M. Principles of heat transfer[J]. Applied Mechanics Reviews，2002，55（5）:100-102.
[24]	European Committee for Standardization. ENV 1993-1-2 Eurocode 3:design of steel structures part 1-2:general rules—structural fire design[S]. London:British Standards Institution，2005:3-14.