A numerical investigation of 3D structural behaviour for steel-composite structures under various travelling fire scenarios

•Structural behaviour of a 3D steel-composite structure under various travelling fire scenarios (32 cases) were studied.•The applied travelling fire methodology was mass and energy conserved.•Solely satisfying the critical temperature and deflection may not guarantee a safe structural design, utilisation should also be examined under travelling fires.•Compared with inverse opening factor, fire spread rates and fuel load densities are more critical in identifying the worst travelling fire scenario for the structural response.•A “slow” travelling fire with a modest HRR, or a “fast” travelling fire with a high HRR, would both induce significant thermal/structural responses leading to failure depending upon different fire resistence rating.•The importance of the concrete slab inclusion into a 3D structural model under travelling fires, in comparison with a 2D structural model without slab was identified.