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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Geoff Gibson, James Humphrey, Pietro Di Modica, Sandra Christke, Dr George Kotsikos
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The post-fire integrity of pultruded phenolic/glass and polyester/glass floor gratings, of the type used offshore and elsewhere, was investigated. The aim was to determine whether glass/phenolic gratings may be safely walked on, post-fire, by offshore workers and fire fighting teams. The load to be resisted was identified as equivalent to a running person carrying a load, the combined mass being 150 kg. The maximum resulting dynamic strains were determined by strain gauges on the undersides of the individual beam elements of gratings. This enabled target values of post-fire bending resistance to be identified. Individual beam elements from the gratings were exposed to heat fluxes of 12.5 kW/m2, 37.5 kW/m2 and 100 kW/m2 using a propane burner, for periods of up to 16 minutes, after which the residual strength was measured. Phenolic gratings showed longer ignition times, with lower flame and smoke emission, as well as greater post-fire strength compared to polyester ones. At the lowest flux, 12.5 kW/m2, all gratings remained serviceable beyond 16 minutes. At higher heat fluxes the phenolic gratings retained some post-fire strength, assisted by the formation of a carbonaceous char binding the fibres. However, this was somewhat below the target level. A study of the effect of testing speed indicated that fire-exposed gratings are not especially strain-rate sensitive.
Author(s): Gibson AG, Humphrey JK, Di-Modica P, Christke S, Kotsikos G, Holliday R
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites
Year: 2014
Volume: 33
Issue: 6
Pages: 543-555
Print publication date: 01/03/2014
Online publication date: 08/07/2013
Acceptance date: 08/07/2013
ISSN (print): 0731-6844
ISSN (electronic): 1530-7964
Publisher: Sage
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0731684413495933
DOI: 10.1177/0731684413495933
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