Modelling of fire performance of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels

Abstract

A numerical method has been developed to incorporate the effects of heat transfer in a CLT panel exposed to fire. The procedure has been added into the software package Abaqus [1] as a user-defined subroutine (Umatht), and has been verified using both time-and spatially dependent heat fluxes in two- and three-dimensional problems. The aim is to contribute to the development of simulation tools needed to assist structural engineers and fire testing laboratories in technical assessment exercises. The accuracy of the used thermal properties and the finite element models was validated by comparing the predicted results with an available fire test in literature. It was found that the model calibrated to results from standard fire conditions provided reasonable predictions of temperatures within CLT panel exposed to fire.