Fire resistance of wooden cellular slabs with rectangular perforations

This paper presents a numerical approach with finite element method in order to predict both the behaviour and the performance of the wooden slabs with rectangular perforations under fire exposure. These typical constructions have good sound absorption, thermal insulation and relevant architectonic features, they are used in many civil engineering applications. These slabs are normally installed at lower level in building constructions essentially due to an easy maintenance requisite. Depending on the installation requirement, the perforated wooden slabs could have an additional insulation material inside the cavities. The proposed numerical model could be applied to different design constructive slab solutions. For this purpose a 3D numerical simulation was conducted with particular attention to the wood thermal properties variation with temperature. The numerical results were compared with those obtained experimentally in laboratory, for two wooden slabs. The fire resistance (performance criteria related to the insulation (I) and integrity (E)) was evaluated, as well as the effect of rectangular perforations into the residual cross section of the slab. This study was conducted in accordance with European Standard EN 1365-2 and using a fire resistance furnace which complies the requirements of EN 1363-1 in the experimental test.

Numerical analysis of wooden slabs with perforations under fire conditions

Wood is considered an ideal solution for floors and roofs building construction, due the mechanical and thermal properties, associated with acoustic conditions. These constructions have good sound absorption, heat insulation and relevant architectonic characteristics. They are used in many civil applications: concert and conference halls, auditoriums, ceilings, walls… However, the high vulnerability of wooden elements submitted to fire conditions requires the evaluation of its structural behaviour with accuracy. The main objective of this work is to present a numerical model to assess the fire resistance of wooden cellular slabs with different perforations. Also the thermal behaviour of the wooden slabs will be compared considering different material insulation, with different sizes, inside the cavities. A transient thermal analysis with nonlinear material behaviour will be solved using ANSYS© program. This study allows to verify the fire resistance, the temperature evolution and the char-layer, throughout a wooden cellular slab with perforations and considering the insulation effect inside the cavities.