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Evaluation of the Finite Control Volume Method in Simulating Thermal Fire Resistance of Building Elements
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Chow, Wan Ki Ho, Christian M. Fong, Ng Kian |
| Abstract | Application of the finite control volume method on simulating thermal fire resistance of building materials and elements was evaluated. Example was taken on studying the thermal responses of a concrete column under fire. By neglecting moisture transfer, the thermal conduction equation in concrete was solved numerically to get the temperature distribution. Results were compared with those calculated from other finite difference schemes including the forward difference, backward difference and central difference schemes. Methods on handling the transient term including the explicit method, the implicit method, the CrankNicolson method and the AlternatingDirection-Implicit scheme were considered. Numerical problems encountered in using those schemes were listed and quantified. Steady state results were compared with analytical solution. Recommendation was then made on selecting the appropriate finite difference scheme for simulating the thermal fire resistance of building element for design purposes. (1) INTRODUCTION “Fire resistance” is a term associated (e.g. BS476-1987, Malhotra 1982) with the ability of a building element to perform its usual function when exposed to fire. Fire resistance periods are specified for different building elements to denote how long they can stand without loss in its function as loadbearing or prevention of fire spreading. Studying the thermal fire resistance of building structures and elements is essential and standard tests such as the BS476 part 20 are performed for evaluating the fire resistance of structures and building components. There, a furnace (either by oil or by gas fuel) is built to heat up the structure for testing its stability, integrity and insulation. Stability is the ability for the element to carry the load without collapsing. Integrity is the ability to prevent the formation of cracks or perforations so that smoke and flame cannot spread from one side to the other side of the element. Insulation is the ability to prevent the passage of heat through the element. Carrying out a fire resistance test is very expensive and time-consuming. In addition to the testing time, a waiting period of up to 1 week might be required for cooling the furnace. There are no laboratories in Hong Kong equipped with such a resistance furnace, and computer simulation (Wade and Kvokosky 1982, Calhoun 1983, Hakseuer 1985, Sterner and Wickstron 1990, Fields and Fields 1991, Chow and Chan 1996) will be useful for assessing the fire resistance of structures and new building products. Analysis of the fire resistances for the non-combustible materials can be described as a thermal conduction problem. Numerical methods are employed to solve |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://www.inive.org/members_area/medias/pdf/Inive/IBPSA/UFSC594.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
