Experimental investigation of the relationship between timber species and smouldering

Wenxuan  Wu; Luis Yermán Martinez; Juan P  Hidalgo; Jeffrey Morrell; Felix Wiesner

doi:10.52202/069179-0225

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Experimental investigation of the relationship between timber species and smouldering

Conference paper

Peer reviewed

Experimental investigation of the relationship between timber species and smouldering

Wenxuan Wu, Luis Yermán Martinez, Juan P Hidalgo, Jeffrey Morrell and Felix Wiesner

Proceedings from the 13th World Conference on Timber Engineering 2023, pp.1673-1680

World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE), 13th (Oslo, Norway, 19-Jun-2023–22-Jun-2023)

Curran Associates, Inc.

2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52202/069179-0225

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Abstract

Timber

Timber Species

Smouldering

Oxidation

Thermogravimetric Analysis

Fire Safety

Combustion

Bushfires

Smouldering, the exothermic solid-phase oxidation process of porous char, can damage or destroy timber structures long after a fire has burnt out or its flame front has passed. Reaction kinetic parameters (i.e. activation energy Ea and frequency factor A) of timber oxidation can be determined from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). These parameters along with timber density could potentially be used to predict the self-sustaining smouldering of timber species. To verify this hypothesis, the relationship between the occurrence of self-sustained smouldering and the properties of different timber species, namely density and activation energies of pyrolysis and oxidation, was determined through bench-scale smouldering tests using Cone Calorimeter and TGA for nine Australian timber species. Less dense timbers with lower activation energies were more prone to initiate and sustain smouldering under extreme laboratory conditions.

Details

Title: Experimental investigation of the relationship between timber species and smouldering
Authors: Wenxuan Wu (Author) - University of Queensland
Luis Yermán Martinez (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life
Juan P Hidalgo (Author) - University of Queensland
Jeffrey Morrell (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life
Felix Wiesner (Author) - University of British Columbia
Publication details: Proceedings from the 13th World Conference on Timber Engineering 2023, pp.1673-1680
Conference details: World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE), 13th (Oslo, Norway, 19-Jun-2023–22-Jun-2023)
Publisher: Curran Associates, Inc.
Date published: 2023
DOI: 10.52202/069179-0225; 10.52202/069179
ISBN: 9781713873273
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99737597902621
Output Type: Conference paper

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