Numerical Analysis of Charring of Timber Structures in Natural Fires

摘要

Timber structures are becoming an important element in sustainable and economic development. However, the combustibility of timber still limits its use as a building material due to restrictions in building regulations in most countries. Most of the research and calculation methods related to the behaviour of wood, including charring, are based on standard fire exposure. This study presents the results of numerical thermal analysis conducted for three different timber structures in natural fires, for which experimental results are available. The results are compared to those from calculation methods of EC5 part 1.2. Applied material properties are based on EC5 part 1.2 and novel studies. Wood is combustible material and especially in the cooling phase of fire this may have considerable effect on charring. It is shown in this paper how this increase in fire load can be taken iteratively into account in numerical analysis.