Simulation for safety engineering: A comparison between experimental data and fire models

A comparison analysis has been conducted between experimental data of a concrete structure and three different models developed with CFAST, by NIST. This work concentrates on the possibility of modeling simplified fire objects. Full-scale experiments are simulated by two-layers zone models. Through a reverse approach on heat release rate estimation, a comparison between different models is reported analyzing time to flash over, maximum temperature, shape of the time-temperature curve. The possible use of these models as an engineering design tool is carried out. Results show that different ventilations lead to an uncertain time-temperature response. The benefits that should come from decomposition of fire load into many fire objects is counterbalanced by reduced accuracy due to increased model complexity and interactions between fire plumes. © 2013 DIME UNIVERSITÀ DI GENOVA.