Citation

Takeda H. Fire Mater. 2003; 27(1): 19-39.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The author has developed a series of computer models to predict the fire resistance of wood-framed walls and floors. The models utilize two-dimensional heat-conduction equations and thermo-physical property data to describe heat transfer through the assemblies. The model for wall assemblies WALL2D, the basic version of the wall model, has already been published in Fire and Materials. Recently, WALL2D has been extended to WALL2DN to analyse heat transfer through insulated walls and walls that experience openings at the joints between adjacent sheets of gypsum board. Since gypsum board shrinks at high temperatures, the joints between adjacent sheets of gypsum board open. Hot fire gases, thereby, enter the openings and heat the edge of the gypsum board and wood studs. The new model WALL2DN simulates the joint opening and describes the resultant effect of openings. The model also calculates heat transfer through insulation in the stud cavity and depicts the effect of insulation on the fire resistance of non-load bearing wall assemblies. Insulation selected in WALL2DN is glass-fibre insulation, rock-fibre insulation, polystyrene foam and polyurethane foam. When walls are exposed to fire, the insulation in the cavity shrinks (and/or melts) and an empty space appears at the interface between insulation and gypsum board. The model simulates this shrinking behaviour of insulation in the cavity. Finally, the model was validated by comparing the predicted results to those from full-scale standard fire-endurance tests.