Temperature fields for fire resistance analysis of structures exposed to natural fires in large space buildings

Abstract

Summary Temperature fields analysis is an essential work to evaluate the behavior of structures in fires. Large space buildings are mostly highly populated or high‐fire load places with high fire risks. So it is a research focus to predict the temperature fields of large space fires accurately. In this study, a full‐scale physical experiment on fires in large spaces has been conducted. The results show that the temperature distribution of natural fires in large spaces is nonuniform. With regard to the evolution laws of the temperature fields of natural fires in large spaces, the author developed a new temperature field prediction model for large spaces. The new model has been compared with the well‐known Li G Q model and the Xue S D model. Based on the comparative analysis, the new model can predict the change laws of the temperature fields with time in the whole fire process and reflect the gradual attenuation of temperature fields in the fire during the decay phase better. In the meantime, this new model developed by the authors can be used to structural analysis exposed to fires in large space buildings.