Progressive Methods in Studying the Charred Layer Parameters Change in Relation to Wood Moisture Content

Area of Science:

• Wood science
• Fire engineering
• Material science

Background:

• Understanding wood's fire behavior is crucial for structural safety.
• Charred layer formation influences the fire resistance of timber structures.
• European larch (Larix decidua L.) is a common construction material with varying moisture content.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between moisture content and charred layer parameters in European larch.
• To determine how wood moisture affects fire resistance.
• To quantify the impact of moisture on charred and degraded wood layer formation.

Main Methods:

• Development of a finite element model (FEM) using ANSYS software.
• Application of transient thermal analysis for simulation.
• Validation of the FEM through medium-scale laboratory fire tests with radiant panel loading.

Main Results:

• The validated FEM demonstrated high accuracy (93.4%) in predicting experimental results.
• Increased moisture content in European larch significantly reduces the area of charred and degraded wood layers.
• A 10% to 30% increase in moisture content led to an approximate 20% decrease in charred layer area and nearly 30% decrease in degraded wood area.

Conclusions:

• Wood moisture content is a critical factor influencing char formation and fire resistance.
• Higher moisture content in European larch enhances its fire resistance by reducing charring.
• The relationship between wood moisture content and the reduction in charred/degraded layers is exponential, offering valuable insights for timber design.