Evaluation of fire performance of lightweight concrete wall panels using finite element analysis

Abstract

Purpose In this study, the insulation fire ratings of lightweight foamed concrete, autoclaved aerated concrete and lightweight aggregate concrete were investigated using finite element modelling. Design/methodology/approach Lightweight aggregate concrete containing various aggregate types, i.e. expanded slag, pumice, expanded clay and expanded shale were studied under standard fire and hydro–carbon fire situations using validated finite element models. Results were used to derive empirical equations for determining the insulation fire ratings of lightweight concrete wall panels. Findings It was observed that autoclaved aerated concrete and foamed lightweight concrete have better insulation fire ratings compared with lightweight aggregate concrete. Depending on the insulation fire rating requirement of 15%–30% of material saving could be achieved when lightweight aggregate concrete wall panels are replaced with the autoclaved aerated or foamed concrete wall panels. Lightweight aggregate concrete fire performance depends on the type of lightweight aggregate. Lightweight concrete with pumice aggregate showed better fire performance among the normal lightweight aggregate concretes. Material saving of 9%–14% could be obtained when pumice aggregate is used as the lightweight aggregate material. Hydrocarbon fire has shown aggressive effect during the first two hours of fire exposure; hence, wall panels with lesser thickness were adversely affected. Originality/value Finding of this study could be used to determine the optimum lightweight concrete wall type and the optimum thickness requirement of the wall panels for a required application.

Finite Element Modelling to Predict the Fire Performance of Bio-Inspired 3D-Printed Concrete Wall Panels Exposed to Realistic Fire

“…For walls containing a cavity, heat transfer through the cavity was modelled considering the heat transfer through radiation. Many studies have concluded that heat transfer in voids is governed by heat transfer through radiation [28,46,63]; therefore, the emissivity value of 0.7 was assigned to the cavity surfaces, and was modelled based on closed cavities in the geometry [62]. For walls filled with insulation material, tie constraints were assigned between the wall and the filling material to model the perfect connection between the two surfaces in the heat transfer process.…”

Finite element analysis of lightweight concrete-filled LSF walls exposed to realistic design fire

“…, 2020; Keerthan and Mahendran, 2012b; Upasiri et al. , 2021a, b, c). Fire load is defined as a fire flame's time-temperature variation (fire curve) in both experimental and numerical investigations.…”

“…FC uses a forming agent to introduce fine air bubbles in the concrete mix to make the structure cellular (Upasiri et al. , 2020, 2021a, b, c). According to the literature (Upasiri et al.…”

“…, 2021a; Upasiri et al. , 2021b; Upasiri et al. , 2021c; European Committee for Standardisation, EN 1991-1-2).…”

“…The hydrocarbon fire curve is another commonly used fire curve representing the fire induced in high fuel loads in fuel sheds and industrial facilities (Upasiri et al. , 2021b, c; European Committee for Standardisation, EN 1991-1-2).…”