The College of Engineering, Diyala University discussed a master dissertation on the buckling behavior of steel columns exposed to high, asymmetric and non-linear temperature gradients by the postgraduate student, Ms. Fatima Mohammed Khalaf.

The dissertation aimed at studying the buckling behavior of unprotected steel columns when exposed to high and irregular temperature gradients, in order to simulate real-world fire conditions that steel structures may encounter.

The dissertation indicated that thermal buckling is one of the most dangerous types of structural failure due to the potential for sudden collapses during or after a fire, as well as reviewing asymmetric temperature gradients that cause additional lateral deformations that accelerate buckling compared to symmetrical thermal exposure.

The dissertation demonstrated that high temperatures lead to a significant decrease in the columns' buckling resistance due to a loss of stiffness and load-bearing capacity, particularly at high temperatures.