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Experimental investigations on the flame spread of building’s vertical U-shape façade

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Abstract

In this paper, the fire hazard and flame spread characteristics of vertical U-shape channel (asymmetric U-shape geometry) façade were investigated experimentally. A theoretical model for the flame spread and air entrainment mechanisms was also provided. It was found that the flame height, flame spread rate, and mass loss rate (MLR) increased with the increasing geometrical factor (dimensionless depth). And a limit was reached when the geometrical factor increased. Data indicated that the fire hazard of U-shape geometry was significantly higher than that of flat shape. For asymmetric factors (dimensionless asymmetric variances), the flame spread rate, flame height, and MLR decreased with the increasing asymmetric factor. Moreover, the theoretical model showed that flame spread rate increased with geometrical factor and decreased with asymmetric factor. Also, induced flow speed reached a limit with the increasing geometrical factor. Theoretical analysis agreed well with experiments. Model predictions of flame spread rate were reasonable and in the same order of magnitude as experiments. Theoretical analysis showed that flat-shape, L-shape, and symmetric U-shape geometries could be regarded as special cases of asymmetric geometries. The results of this study could be used for fire safety evaluations of vertical surface structure designs such as building façade and wall design.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, People’s Republic of China

    Weigang Yan, Jiantao Li & Kun Wang

  2. Rudong Coastal Development Zone of Jiangsu, Rudong, 226407, China

    Yang Shen

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  1. Weigang Yan
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  2. Jiantao Li
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  3. Yang Shen
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  4. Kun Wang
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Correspondence to Weigang Yan.

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Yan, W., Li, J., Shen, Y. et al. Experimental investigations on the flame spread of building’s vertical U-shape façade. J Therm Anal Calorim 147, 5961–5971 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-021-10926-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-021-10926-9

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