Numerical modelling of heat transfer in gypsum plasterboards exposed to fire

Abstract

Paper presented at the 6th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, South Africa, 30 June - 2 July, 2008.

A numerical code for the simulation of the one-dimensional heat transfer through a commercially available gypsum board exposed to fire is presented. A parametric study regarding the physical properties of the gypsum is carried out. The predictions obtained with the in-house developed code are in good agreement with experimental data, when temperature dependent physical properties are taken into account. The good performance of gypsum boards under fire conditions, from the fire safety point of view, due to the dehydration/calcination process and the occurring energy absorption is pointed out by the numerical results.