Use of Rankine method in the analysis of structures at elevated temperatures

In this paper, the use of the Rankine method for structural analysis at elevated temperatures is presented. The methodology is based on the techniques that the authors have developed for the analysis of structures in fire. While the authors from both institutions developed the techniques independently, their results of analysis converge to the same conclusion that Rankine method is still applicable to structures at elevated temperatures. When using this technique in failure analysis of structures in fire, the failure temperature is calculated at a collapse load factor equal to one (Unit Load Factor Method). The calculation of the failure load and failure temperature is demonstrated using plastic analysis, buckling analysis and nonlinear finite element analysis, the results of which are related by the Rankine method.