METHOD OF VERIFYING THE FIRE RESISTANCE OF HIGH PARTITIONS, USING THE STAB-FEU MODEL

摘要

The fire behaviour of built structures is assessed today mainly on the basis of results of experiments. However, in parallel with this experimental approach, digital calculation methods are developing fast. This new trend is due to the following: 1. Progress in the understanding of physical and mechanical phenomena and their formulation as theoretical models, 2. Conversion of these models into digital tools, made possible by the constant improvement in the performances of computer processing, 3. Enrichment of knowledge arising from exchanges between researchers in Europe and elsewhere. In the area of fire resistance, the experimental approach has also run into physical limits, imposed by the dimensions of test furnaces. In the absence of experimental facilities, suitable for the size of the building elements to be tested, the experts who must assess these projects then base themselves, inter alia on the results of digital simulations. With this in mind, STAB-FEU, a computer model with finite elements, has been developed by CSTB. This model uses a mixed approach, tests / calculations for the assessment of the fire resistance of partitions. High partitions of plaster panels constitute an initial application of this software.