TABLE OF CONTENTS It would appear that geographical reasons explain the proliferation of many models for fire resistance. Most of the work on fire resistance took place before 1970, when communication and dissemination of research in fire was limited. This might explain the existence of the different models. However, their differences are superficial for the most part, clouded by notation or parameters that might appear as different. For that reason, it was felt important to develop a theoretical base for the models. So doing might appear to be establishing yet another model. Indeed, the contrary is intended. The purpose of this theoretical exposition is to present a rationale for the physics of the models and to show their similarities and deficiencies. It is in this context that a theoretical introduction is provided to the models that exist in the literature.
The purpose of this theoretical development is to:
Present the governing equations
Explain and justify typical approximations
Present the equations in dimensionless terms to show
Their generality
Independence of scale
Relationship to variables used in the established methods
The common objective of all the models has been to predict the following:
Compartment gas temperature
Burning rate of the fire
Duration of the fire
The purpose of the studies considered has been to predict the thermal effects of fully developed building fires so that their impact on the structural members could be assessed. Fully developed fires with considerable fuel will tend to produce a fairly uniform temperature smoke layer that will...
