INVESTIGATING TIMBER BEAM BEHAVIOR IN TWO-DIMENSIONAL STANDARD FIRE EXPOSURE: A FINITE ELEMENT MODELING APPROACH

Abstract

This study explores the fire behavior of timber beams subjected to two-dimensional (2-D) standard fire exposure. This paper conducted simulation tests on eight beams of varying sizes and exposure durations to a three-sided fire. The finite element software, ANSYS, was employed to predict and analyse the fire behavior of these beams. It was found that as the size of the beam decreases, its fire behavior also diminishes, with the reduction ratio similarly decreasing. Based on main findings, it was revealed that under a temperature distribution of 945.3oC for a duration of 90 minutes, the fire data from the 60 minutes clearly indicated that the beams with dimension size 75mm×100mm×1000mm could no longer withstand the conditions. The samples were completely charred after 67 minutes and 75 minutes, respectively. The beam with dimensions 100mm×150mm×1000mm, while not entirely burned, was deemed a failure as it was nearly fully consumed by the fire. At this temperature stage, it was also observed that the beam measuring 100mm×200mm×1000mm exhibited less resilience compared to the beam of dimensions 125mm×150mm×1000mm.

Keywords: ANSYS, Finite Element Modeling, 2-D Standard Fire, Fire Behavior, Timber Density, Mengkulang Timber