Citation

Gao Z, Wu W, Ren A. Tumu Gongcheng Xuebao 2006; 39(3): 37-41.

Affiliation

Architectural Design and Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Zhongguo gong ye chu ban she)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A simulation framework was designed to monitor the structural performance of a building during the process of fire. The framework is constructed on the basis of two existing software packages, one is for fire simulation and the other is for structural analysis. By refining and remodeling the data from the input and output files of the existing software, a numerical environment was established for the fire process. Based on the findings from physical experiments, two program modules for predicting material degradation under high temperatures and structural failure, respectively, were developed. These modules together with the basic framework form a numerical environment for simulation of the building fire process. The framework was developed using the object-oriented data modeling and system integration approach. By so doing, data objects from different modules can be easily coordinated with each other, and the modules can be scheduled automatically during the process of fire. Therefore, by use of the framework, structural safety in a building fire can be readily simulated in a single numerical environment under the same platform. In addition, the framework offers a new option for the study of fire disaster by numerical simulations and the method is both efficient and cost-effective. Indeed, the present research shows that one can bring the study in the laboratory to the simulation of real-world building fire. It is also useful for performance-based fire engineering design.