Holmes Fire provided financial support for the new updates of the SAFIR non-linear finite element program with our very own Linus Lim providing input on connections development. SAFIR is a specialist finite element program that has been developed by Professor Jean-Marc Franssen (University of Liege) and Associate Professor Thomas Gernay (Johns Hopkins University) for the bespoke analysis of the structures in fire. From the numerous structural fire projects that Holmes Fire have undertaken, we recognised the need to improve the rotational hinge definition in the previous versions of the SAFIR program and provided financial support for the development of a new rotational hinge model in SAFIR, which also included the added ability to model semi-rigid connections. These new connection capabilities will enable engineers to represent boundary conditions of structural supports and connections more accurately. This can result in faster run times, better predictions of structural fire performance of real structures and can result in greater optimisation of fire protection of steel structures.
This development has been eagerly anticipated by the wider SAFIR user community due to the programs more user-friendly interface which results in faster implementation of these connections in the program and includes faster analysis times which will enable the faster delivery of results on projects.
Find useful resources and more about SAFIR here.