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Adam Ervine

PhD Project:

Behaviour of damaged structures in fire

It is well recognised that in building structures, fires often follow major damage caused by other extreme events such as blast or impact. Damage due to fire is amplified because fire fighting systems have been compromised by the preceding events and because failed infra-structure prevents fire-fighting (often known as common mode failures or events). Since it is uneconomical to design structures to remain completely undamaged during extreme events, design codes permit some structural damage as long as progressive collapse is prevented. Therefore the effect of fire in a structure that has already been damaged may be devastating as it will already by in a distressed state. This study will examine the response to fire of damaged, multi-storey framed structures.

Project funded by BRE

Previous projects

Selected Publications

See also our page on the Edinburgh Research Archive.


BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering
The School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh
The King's Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JL
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