Simulating Fire Effects on Complex Building Structures.
Simulating Fire Effects on Complex Building Structures.
(101 K)
Baum, H. R.
Fire Safety Science. Proceedings. Eighth (8th)
International Symposium. International Association for
Fire Safety Science (IAFSS). September 18-23, 2005,
Beijing, China, Intl. Assoc. for Fire Safety Science,
Boston, MA, Gottuk, D. T.; Lattimer, B. Y.,
Editor(s)(s), 3-18 pp, 2005.
Keywords:
fire research; fire safety; fire science; structures;
fire models; heat transfer; fire dynamics; simulations;
structural analysis; uncertainty; methodology; World
Trade Center; building collapse; thermal analysis;
stress (mechanics); equations; impact
Abstract:
The purpose of this lecture is to assess the current
state of our ability to simulate the consequences of a
fire in a large building, and suggest some areas where
improvement is needed. Attention is focused on the
coupling of fire dynamics simulations and heat transfer
analyses to each other and to structural analyses of the
damaged building. The role that uncertainty in "input
parameters" resulting from coupling a sequence of
complex simulations is considered. The methodology used
in the NIST investigation into the collapse of the World
Trade Center Towers will be described from this
perspective. The intent is not to summarize the results
of the investigation, but rather to provide a specific
context that illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of
the methodologies employed. Research needs are
emphasized by examination of some basic problems in
fire-structure interactions.
