NUMERICAL STUDY OF GLASS FAILURE DUE TO COMPARTMENT FIRE

Abstract

The criteria for glass failure are primarily determined by the initiation of the first crack. However, the subsequent consequences of this cracking, which include the formation of multiple cracks and their merging, resulting in fall-out conditions under varying thermal loads, become increasingly significant. This numerical study concentrates on glass failure induced by compartment fires. The study validates the findings of Test 9 from the research paper titled "Investigation of thermal breakage and heat transfer in single, insulated, and laminated glazing under fire conditions" by Yu Wang et al. (2017). Furthermore, this research examines the thermal performance of different interlayer materials used in laminated glass, specifically Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB), Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), and Ethylene-vinyl Acetate (EVA). By varying thickness and heat transfer coefficient of these materials, this study aims to understand their behaviour under fire conditions. Throughout the simulations, total incident heat flux, surrounding temperature, and air temperature on the fire-exposed side are kept constant to ensure consistency across different scenarios. The research includes both plane laminated glass and point-supported laminated glass configurations, providing a detailed analysis of how these variables influence thermal performance and failure mechanisms of glass under fire conditions.