Structural Performance of Outdoor Mechanical Garages under Combustion Conditions

Abstract

In this paper, the firing process and structural failure behavior of outdoor mechanical car parks are innovatively investigated under diverse conditions, leveraging fire experiments, FDS fire simulation, and finite element simulation. The fire experiments reveal the intricate interplay between flame spread and airflow, highlighting the enhanced risk of fire propagation among adjacent spaces. The temperature profile, mirroring the fire’s lifecycle, is delineated into three distinct stages: initial growth, full development, and eventual decay. Notably, full-scale fire simulation in FDS validates the experimental outcomes, underscoring the scalability and reliability of our scaled-down experiments. Furthermore, finite element simulations offer a profound understanding of structural safety in various parking spaces during a fire. Critically, the susceptibility of columns to failure underscores the imperative need for enhanced fire prevention measures in column design, representing a significant advancement in fire protection engineering.