The limit is, for certain, less than the current needed to
raise the bus-bar to the liquidus of (copper?) from its
initial temperature. A simple calculation would be the
heat mass of the bar (mass times specific heat times
temperature rise (Tliq-Tinit), for the energy allowed,
Ibus^2*Rbus*1sec for the Joule energy imparted (do
not forget to convert the heat-mass units to Joule
basis), you can solve this mess for Ibus.
Second order effects, such as the bus-bar resistance
depending on temperature, are likely to be significant.
So too, the geometry (short bar will not be adiabatic
at 1-sec timescales, a long bar will be closer if heat
can only escape meaningfully via the end connections).
And of course failure could be before liquidus, from
some other thing like the bus-bar simply softening,
slumping and shorting to the chassis or something
like that.