Thermal Response of Fire-Exposed Composites

Abstract

To evaluate the impact of fire on the structural response of a composite component, the thermal response of that component must first be determined. Given a moderate-intensity, short-duration, radiant heat flux with an arbitrary distribution, a three-dimensional heat transfer analysis is essential to predict properly the thermal response. A three-dimensional heat transfer model is formulated to examine the thermal response of an anisotropic composite laminate. The model permits temperature-dependent material properties, arbitrary locations of heat sources and sinks, and a wide variety of realistic boundary conditions. Good agreement between predictions and experimental results are obtained.