From Flames to Resilience: New Perspectives for the Design of Structures Against Fire Hazards

Ignacio Paya-Zaforteza

;Stefan Zmigrodzki;Flavio Stochino

2023-01-01

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Abstract

The catastrophic consequences of fire events in singular buildings (e.g. Nôtre Dame Cathedral) and tunnels (e.g. Hsuehshan and Mont Blanc tunnels) have significantly changed the public perception of fire risk. During a fire, materials and structures are pushed to the limit, and ensuring an adequate fire response can be very challenging. Fires pose a range of det- rimental effects also on bridges (see e.g. the fire induced collapse of the Interstate 95 bridge in Northeast Phi- ladelphia, USA), including the poten- tial weakening of structural components and the compromising of the bridge load-bearing capacity and overall stability. This special issue is aimed at showing innovative and useful perspectives to address these challenges.