Communication framework for hybrid fire testing: Developments and applications in virtual and real environments. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sauca, Ana; Zhang, Chao; Chernovsky, Artur; Seif, Mina
• Is Part Of: Fire safety journal. Volume 111(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: Hybrid fire testing -- Substructuring -- Communication framework -- Design fires; Fire prevention -- Periodicals; Incendies -- Prévention -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Fire prevention -- Research; Periodicals; 628.92205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2019.102937
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-7112

Abstract

Abstract: The response of structural systems to fire loads is typically assessed through performing 'standard' fire tests on individual members under constant mechanical boundary conditions. Full scale tests showed different behavior compared to the standard tests, but remain impractical. A promising approach to predict the behavior of full scale tests through testing individual structural members is Hybrid Fire Testing technique, where a subset of the structural system (Physical Substructure PS), is physically tested, while the remaining structure (Numerical Substructure NS), is simultaneously numerically analyzed. During the test, the mechanical boundary conditions on the PS and NS are continuously updated, and the updates are enabled by the communication framework. The communication framework is a key element for a successful hybrid fire test and this paper will present the development of such communication in MATLAB. To validate the communication framework, first, a single degree of freedom linear system was analyzed, followed by a ten-story steel frame structure exposed to design fire. The analysis of the latter underlined the importance of considering the effect of the cold surrounding in assessing the fire behavior of structures under design fires. Sensitivity analysis showed the importance of several parameters (time step and substructures stiffness) in hybrid fire testing. Highlights: One degree-of-freedom linear system and ten-story steel frame structure were analyzed by means of hybrid fire technique and a sensitivity analysis showed that the time step and the stiffness value of substructures are influencing the accuracy of the results. A communication framework was successfully developed in MATLAB with dual use; (i) enables the communication of generic software packages, without any code modifications, (ii) works as a framework for experimental setup and control on its own. The code of SARIR was modified in order to allow the real-time communication during the hybrid fire test. The analysis of ten-story steel frame building exposed to design fire underlined the importance of considering the effect of the cold surrounding for proper understanding and assessment of fire behavior.