Analysis of the load-bearing capacity of timber members exposed to fire

Abstract

Members of building structures are often made of wood. There are many advantages of using timber, such as quick erection time, good environmental influence and high energy efficiency. But the fire safety requirement is one of the most important issues concerning the design of timber structures. Safe use in structures depends on a proper knowledge and modelling of the chemical and physical reactions related to the increase of temperature inside the timber members. This paper presents a summary of results from numerical studies on the heat transfer through timber members exposed to fire from different sides. The finite element software SAFIR was used to make two-dimensional thermal models of the timber elements. Then the FE models were used to analyze the heat flow within the members under standard ISO-fire exposure interacting from different sides. On the basis of the 300 °C isotherms, residual cross-sections were determined. Then, the load-bearing capacity of the elements exposed to fire from different sides was determined. The obtained results showed that the location of construction members against the fire has a significant impact of the temperature distribution in the cross-section and, as a result, on the load-bearing capacity of the timber members.