This study compares two pyrolysis models on predicting the mass loss of fiber reinforcedpolymer (FRP) composite in fire. Mass loss histories of pultruded E-glass/polyestercomposite panels exposed to onesided heating were measured with a cone calorimeter andthen were used to compare mass predictions by a finite-rate pyrolysis model and an infiniteratepyrolysis model. In the finite-rate kinetics model, pyrolysis rate is described by anArrhenius equation based on the thermogravimetric analysis of the composite. The infiniteratemodel, based on enthalpy change, assumes that pyrolysis occurs at an infinite rate at thepyrolysis front and uses a pyrolysis front of zero thickness defined by the pyrolysistemperature that divides the composite panel into char layer and virgin layer. A concept ofeffective char thickness was introduced in the infinite-rate model to evaluate the rate of charformation. The results show that both pyrolysis models can predict acceptable mass lossresults, and that the infinite-rate model is computationally less expensive.
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