Abstract:A modified Shanley method is proposed to study the post-buckling behavior of axially restrained steel columns under combined axial load and bending moment in a fire. The modified Shanley method considers the influence of the axial restraint, the axial temperature expansion and the plastic deformation of steel in high temperature, in which the strain of two limbs is an unknown quantity, to get the axial force-temperature relationship of the column. The critical temperature can be obtained by the contrast of the axial force-temperature relationship curve and the original axial force. The simplified calculation method is verified by an ABAQUS model. The critical temperatures predicated by the two methods agree well.The study shows that this model has the features of clear concept, fine analysis, and easy for the analysis of axial restrained column in a fire.