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Development of a numerical approach based on coupled CFD/FEM analysis for virtual fire resistance tests—Part A: Thermal analysis of the gas phase combustion and different test specimens
Author(s) -
Prieler Rene,
Mayrhofer Markus,
EichhornGruber Markus,
Schwabegger Günther,
Hochenauer Christoph
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
fire and materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-1018
pISSN - 0308-0501
DOI - 10.1002/fam.2666
Subject(s) - computational fluid dynamics , finite element method , flue gas , combustion , thermal conduction , gypsum , mechanics , thermal , materials science , thermal analysis , coupling (piping) , fire test , computer simulation , structural engineering , mechanical engineering , engineering , nuclear engineering , composite material , thermodynamics , waste management , chemistry , simulation , physics , organic chemistry
Summary In the present two‐parted study, a numerical approach is shown to consider fire resistance tests in virtual space, including the combustion, thermal analysis of the test specimen, and the deformation process. This part is dealing with the combustion process and thermal analysis of different building materials tested in a fire resistance furnace. Instead of using coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD)/finite element method simulation for the combustion and thermal heat conduction in the solid, which is commonly used in literature, the present approach considers these transport phenomena in one CFD simulation. This method enables a two‐way coupling between the gas phase and the solid material, where chemical reactions and the release of volatile components into the gas phase can occur (eg, release of water vapour from gypsum). To validate the numerical model, a fire resistance test of a steel door, which is a multilayer construction, and a wall made of gypsum blocks were experimentally and numerically investigated. Due to the chemical reactions inside the gypsum, water vapour is released to the gas phase reducing the flue gas temperature about 80 K. This effect was taken into account using a two‐way coupling in the CFD model, which predicted temperatures in close accordance to the measurement.