Numerical Techniques in Fire Safety Engineering 5 (U01619)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : EEL-5-CVNTF

This course addresses the use of models in Fire Safety Engineering. The course is divided into three sections, fire modelling, structural modelling and egress modelling. Fire modelling provides an introduction to the different computational tools available for the study of fire growth and smoke migration. These tools are based on the principles of fire dynamics. Assumptions, numerical methods and limitations will be discussed. Structural modelling studies the behaviour of structures when exposed to a fire. Basic knowledge on the behaviour of construction related materials is used to estimate how mechanical properties of construction materials are affected by a fire (i.e. temperature rise). Structural analysis principles are applied then to the fire problem. This course will provide the necessary knowledge to carry a dynamic calculation of structural behaviour in the event of a fire. An introduction to analytical and computational tools for structural design for fire will be presented. Calculation methods for Egress will be described. The general objective of this course is to provide understanding of the tools available for performance calculations.

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Civil, (School of Engineering and Electronics, Schedule M)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 5th year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Understand the use, advantages and limitations of analytical and empirical models
- Brief survey of the different analytical and empirical tools for fire calculations
- Salt water modelling of smoke movement
Understand the principles of Numerical Modelling of Fires
- Introduction to the numerical modelling of fires, different techniques approaches and historic overview
Define the concept of 'Zone Models'
- Principles of zone modelling of compartment fires. Development of a spread-sheet based zone model
- Introduction to commercial zone models
Understand numerical methods for the modelling of Laminar Flow
- Navier-Stokes solvers
Understand the basic principles of the modelling of Turbulence
- RANS/k-epsilon based models
- LES models
Define the different principles of 'Combustion Models&'
- Laminar/Turbulent Combustion - Description of parameters affecting flame characteristics
- Chemical equilibrium
- Infinite chemistry
- Finite chemistry models
- Soot production models
Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the effect of temperature on material properties
- Steel, concrete, wood, composites
Understand heat transfer calculations based on standard fires
- ISO 834
- Parametric Temperature vs. Time Curves
- Fire Proofing and Thermal Insulation
- Real Fires (Temperature vs. Heat Flux)
Be able to apply heat transfer calculations to structural elements
- Steel - high thermal conductivity
- Concrete - low thermal conductivity
- Composite elements
Understand the role of loss of strength, deformation and thermal expansion
- Analytical principles and calculations
- Computational Models
Understand the basic principles of Egress modelling
- Analytical and Empirical formulations
- Numerical tools for Egress modelling
- Case studies on the use of existing computational tools
Case studies on the use of existing computational tools
- A case study will be used to compare predictions of different numerical packages.