Task 5.3 – Implementation of the material models in the CFD code Much of the work in WP5 concentrated in improving the capabilities of FDS and ABAQUS to model the thermal decomposition process in polymer matrix composites, and in creating feasible models for the new materials that were under development in other work packages of FIRE-RESIST.
The work related to FDS was focused on pyrolysis modelling. This included adding new capabilities to the physics sub-models, their verification and validation, and developing practical methods for the estimation of pyrolysis model parameters from small-scale laboratory experiments. A notable improvement to the FDS solid phase model was the capability to handle swelling and shrinking materials. Also, significant contributions were made to parameter estimation methods for creating pyrolysis models based on Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), cone calorimetry and the use of direct and evolutionary algorithms (Figure . FDS pyrolysis model for the furan+glass fibre laminate of WP3: (a) results of actual and simulated TGA experiment, (b) heat release rate of actual and simulated cone calorimeter experiment.Figure ).
The implementation and verification of the FDS material models and guidance for parameter estimation was reported in Deliverable D5.2.
(a)
(b)
Figure . FDS pyrolysis model for the furan+glass fibre laminate of WP3: (a) results of actual and simulated TGA experiment, (b) heat release rate of actual and simulated cone calorimeter experiment.
