Scale modeling of thermo‐structural fire tests

Abstract Standard methods for fire resistance testing require large‐scale assemblies and are typically conducted on specialized furnaces at considerable cost. This research focused developing a scaling methodology reduced‐scale test that reduces the size of article while maintaining same thermal structural response exhibited in test. The developed incorporates uniform geometric scaling, Fourier number time furnace boundary condition matching. laws were experimentally validated with exposure tests gypsum wallboard samples three scales (full‐scale, 1/2‐scale, 1/6‐scale). In tests, exposed to full‐scale equivalent 60‐min ASTM E119 curve horizontal furnace, temperature rise through thickness profile was measured. Models created calculate modified curves smaller‐scale tests. Experimental results show surface, 1/2‐scale absolute within 1.7% full‐scale, 1/6‐scale 2.5%. While time‐dependent properties burning cracking caused visual differences these modeling measurements demonstrated thermally similar. good similarity temperatures is achievable non‐combustible down 1/6‐scale.