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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 21 August 2019

Shaikh Shamim Hasan, Yue Zhang, Xi Chu and Yanmin Teng

Forest as a vital natural resource in China plays an irreplaceable important role in safeguarding ecological security and human survival and development. Due to the vast…

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Abstract

Purpose

Forest as a vital natural resource in China plays an irreplaceable important role in safeguarding ecological security and human survival and development. Due to the vast territory, huge population and widespread forest landscape of China, forest management is a complex system involving massive data and various management activities. To effectively implement sustainable forest management, the big data technology has been utilized to analyze China’s forestry resources. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to clarify the role of big data technology in China’s forest management.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors revisited the roles of big data in forest ecosystem monitoring, forestry management system development, and forest policy implementation.

Findings

It demonstrates that big data technology has a great potential in forest ecosystem protection and management, as well as the government’s determination for forest ecosystem protection. However, to deepen the application of big data in forest management, several challenges still need to be tackled.

Originality/value

Thus, enhancing modern science and technology to improve big data, cloud computing, and information technologies and their combinations will contribute to tackle the challenges and achieve wisdom of forest management.

Details

Forestry Economics Review, vol. 1 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2631-3030

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 25 September 2019

Venkatesh Kodur, Puneet Kumar and Muhammad Masood Rafi

The current fire protection measures in buildings do not account for all contemporary fire hazard issues, which has made fire safety a growing concern. Therefore, this paper aims…

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Abstract

Purpose

The current fire protection measures in buildings do not account for all contemporary fire hazard issues, which has made fire safety a growing concern. Therefore, this paper aims to present a critical review of current fire protection measures and their applicability to address current challenges relating to fire hazards in buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

To overcome fire hazards in buildings, impact of fire hazards is also reviewed to set the context for fire protection measures. Based on the review, an integrated framework for mitigation of fire hazards is proposed. The proposed framework involves enhancement of fire safety in four key areas: fire protection features in buildings, regulation and enforcement, consumer awareness and technology and resources advancement. Detailed strategies on improving fire safety in buildings in these four key areas are presented, and future research and training needs are identified.

Findings

Current fire protection measures lead to an unquantified level of fire safety in buildings, provide minimal strategies to mitigate fire hazard and do not account for contemporary fire hazard issues. Implementing key measures that include reliable fire protection systems, proper regulation and enforcement of building code provisions, enhancement of public awareness and proper use of technology and resources is key to mitigating fire hazard in buildings. Major research and training required to improve fire safety in buildings include developing cost-effective fire suppression systems and rational fire design approaches, characterizing new materials and developing performance-based codes.

Practical implications

The proposed framework encompasses both prevention and management of fire hazard. To demonstrate the applicability of this framework in improving fire safety in buildings, major limitations of current fire protection measures are identified, and detailed strategies are provided to address these limitations using proposed fire safety framework.

Social implications

Fire represents a severe hazard in both developing and developed countries and poses significant threat to life, structure, property and environment. The proposed framework has social implications as it addresses some of the current challenges relating to fire hazard in buildings and will enhance overall fire safety.

Originality/value

The novelty of proposed framework lies in encompassing both prevention and management of fire hazard. This is unlike current fire safety improvement strategies, which focus only on improving fire protection features in buildings (i.e. managing impact of fire hazard) using performance-based codes. To demonstrate the applicability of this framework in improving fire safety in buildings, major limitations of current fire protection measures are identified and detailed strategies are provided to address these limitations using proposed fire safety framework. Special emphasis is given to cost-effectiveness of proposed strategies, and research and training needs for further enhancing building fire safety are identified.

Details

PSU Research Review, vol. 4 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2399-1747

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 21 December 2022

Milad Shabanian and Nicole Leo Braxtan

3-ply cross-laminated timber (CLT) is used to investigate the thermo-mechanical performance of intermediate-size assemblies comprised of T-shaped welded slotted-in steel doweled…

Abstract

Purpose

3-ply cross-laminated timber (CLT) is used to investigate the thermo-mechanical performance of intermediate-size assemblies comprised of T-shaped welded slotted-in steel doweled connections and CLT beams at ambient temperature (AT), after and during non-standard fire exposure.

Design/methodology/approach

The first set of experiments was performed as a benchmark to find the load-carrying capacity of the assembly and investigate the failure modes at AT. The post-fire performance (PFP) test was performed to investigate the residual strength of the assembly after 30-min exposure to a non-standard fire. The fire-performance (FP) test was conducted to investigate the thermo-mechanical behavior of the loaded assembly during non-standard fire exposure. In this case, the assembly was loaded to 67% of AT load-carrying capacity and partially exposed to a non-standard fire for 75 min.

Findings

Embedment failure and plastic deformation of the dowels in the beam were the dominant failure modes at AT. The load-carrying capacity of the assembly was reduced to 45% of the ambient capacity after 30 min of fire exposure. Plastic bending of the dowels was the principal failure mode, with row shear in the mid-layer of the CLT beam and tear-out failure of the header sides also observed. During the FP test, ductile embedment failure of the timber in contact with the dowels was the major failure mode at elevated temperature.

Originality/value

This paper presents for the first time the thermo-mechanical performance of CLT beam-to-girder connections at three different thermal conditions. For this purpose, the outside layers of the CLT beams were aligned horizontally.

Highlights

  1. Load-carrying capacity and failure modes of CLT beam-to-girder assembly with T-shaped steel doweled connections at ambient temperature presented.

  2. Residual strength and failure modes of the assembly after 30-min partially exposure to the non-standard fire provided throughout the post-fire performance test.

  3. Fire resistance of the assembly partially exposed to the non-standard fire highlighted.

Load-carrying capacity and failure modes of CLT beam-to-girder assembly with T-shaped steel doweled connections at ambient temperature presented.

Residual strength and failure modes of the assembly after 30-min partially exposure to the non-standard fire provided throughout the post-fire performance test.

Fire resistance of the assembly partially exposed to the non-standard fire highlighted.

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 14 August 2017

Venkatesh Kodur and Mohannad Z. Naser

This purpose of this paper is to quantify the effect of local instability arising from high shear loading on response of steel girders subjected to fire conditions.

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Abstract

Purpose

This purpose of this paper is to quantify the effect of local instability arising from high shear loading on response of steel girders subjected to fire conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element model able to evaluate behavior of fire-exposed steel girders is developed. This model, is capable of predicting fire response of steel girders taking into consideration flexural, shear and deflection limit states.

Findings

Results obtained from numerical studies show that shear capacity can degrade at a higher pace than flexural capacity under certain loading scenarios, and hence, failure can result from shear effects prior to attaining failure in flexural mode.

Originality/value

The developed model is unique and provides valuable insight (and information) to the fire response of typical hot-rolled steel girder subjected to high shear loading.

Details

PSU Research Review, vol. 1 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2399-1747

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 29 August 2023

Qingfeng Xu, Hèrm Hofmeyer and Johan Maljaars

Simulations exist for the prediction of the behaviour of building structural systems under fire, including two-way coupled fire-structure interaction. However, these simulations…

Abstract

Purpose

Simulations exist for the prediction of the behaviour of building structural systems under fire, including two-way coupled fire-structure interaction. However, these simulations do not include detailed models of the connections, whereas these connections may impact the overall behaviour of the structure. Therefore, this paper proposes a two-scale method to include screw connections.

Design/methodology/approach

The two-scale method consists of (a) a global-scale model that models the overall structural system and (b) a small-scale model to describe a screw connection. Components in the global-scale model are connected by a spring element instead of a modelled screw, and the stiffness of this spring element is predicted by the small-scale model, updated at each load step. For computational efficiency, the small-scale model uses a proprietary technique to model the behaviour of the threads, verified by simulations that model the complete thread geometry, and validated by existing pull-out experiments. For four screw failure modes, load-deformation behaviour and failure predictions of the two-scale method are verified by a detailed system model. Additionally, the two-scale method is validated for a combined load case by existing experiments, and demonstrated for different temperatures. Finally, the two-scale method is illustrated as part of a two-way coupled fire-structure simulation.

Findings

It was shown that proprietary ”threaded connection interaction” can predict thread relevant failure modes, i.e. thread failure, shank tension failure, and pull-out. For bearing, shear, tension, and pull-out failure, load-deformation behaviour and failure predictions of the two-scale method correspond with the detailed system model and Eurocode predictions. Related to combined load cases, for a variety of experiments a good correlation has been found between experimental and simulation results, however, pull-out simulations were shown to be inconsistent.

Research limitations/implications

More research is needed before the two-scale method can be used under all conditions. This relates to the failure criteria for pull-out, combined load cases, and temperature loads.

Originality/value

The two-scale method bridges the existing very detailed small-scale screw models with present global-scale structural models, that in the best case only use springs. It shows to be insightful, for it contains a functional separation of scales, revealing their relationships, and it is computationally efficient as it allows for distributed computing. Furthermore, local small-scale non-convergence (e.g. a screw failing) can be handled without convergence problems in the global-scale structural model.

Details

Journal of Structural Fire Engineering, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-2317

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 7 December 2022

Milad Shabanian and Nicole Leo Braxtan

Thermomechanical behavior of intermediate-size beam-to-wall assemblies including Glulam-beams connected to cross-laminated timber (CLT) walls with T-shape steel doweled…

Abstract

Purpose

Thermomechanical behavior of intermediate-size beam-to-wall assemblies including Glulam-beams connected to cross-laminated timber (CLT) walls with T-shape steel doweled connections was investigated at ambient temperature (AT) and after and during non-standard fire exposure.

Design/methodology/approach

Three AT tests were conducted to evaluate the load-carrying capacity and failure modes of the assembly at room temperature. Two post-fire performance (PFP) tests were performed to study the impact of 30-min (PFP30) and 60-min (PFP60) partial exposure to a non-standard fire on the residual strength of the assemblies. The assemblies were exposed to fire in a custom-designed frame, then cooled and loaded to failure. A fire performance (FP) test was conducted to study the fire resistance (FR) during non-standard fire exposure by simultaneously applying fire and a mechanical load equal to 65% of the AT load carrying capacity.

Findings

At AT, embedment failure of the dowels followed by splitting failure at the Glulam-beam and tensile failure of the epoxy between the layers of CLT-walls were the dominant failure modes. In both PFP tests, the plastic bending of the dowels was the only observed failure mode. The residual strength of the assembly was reduced 14% after 30 min and 37% after 60 min of fire exposure. During the FP test, embedment failure of timber in contact with the dowels was the only major failure mode, with the maximum rate of displacement at 51 min into the fire exposure.

Originality/value

This is the first time that the thermomechanical performance of such an assembly with a full-contact connection is presented.

Details

Journal of Structural Fire Engineering, vol. 14 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-2317

Keywords

Open Access
Book part
Publication date: 4 May 2018

Sri Safrina Dewi, Dedi Satria, Elin Yusibani and Didik Sugiyanto

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop prototype of the web-based home fire early warning system using Wiznet W5500 Ethernet module. This system protocol helps users in…

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop prototype of the web-based home fire early warning system using Wiznet W5500 Ethernet module. This system protocol helps users in sending information of fire through the internet with the internet of things (IoT) method using Wiznet Ethernet module as communication media to the user.

Design/Methodology/Approach – This paper presents the design of web-based home fire early warning system using Wiznet W5500 Ethernet module. The system prototype is built using flame sensors, MQ-02 smoke sensors, and LM35 temperature sensors as input components. While on the processor side using Arduino Uno microcontroller as sensor data processing. Processed data is sent to the Ethernet module as a web server resulting in a web-based early warning information system with an alarm notification on the browser along with home location status information and sensor data.

Findings – This research produces a prototype of the web-based home fire early warning system using Wiznet W5500 Ethernet module that has been able to provide notification to the security officer housing.

Research Limitations/Implications – In the implementation of measurement, the information system only accesses one house detector or one fire location.

Practical Implications – This research produces a prototype of the web-based home fire early warning system using Wiznet W5500 Ethernet module that has been able to distribute data of temperature, smoke, and fire.

Originality/Value – The development of fire monitoring systems using flame sensors, smoke sensors and integrated temperature sensors in internet-based communication systems of things via the Internet W5500 does not appear to have been published yet.

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 27 October 2021

Luca Possidente, Nicola Tondini and Jean-Marc Battini

Buckling should be carefully considered in steel assemblies with members subjected to compressive stresses, such as bracing systems and truss structures, in which angles and…

Abstract

Purpose

Buckling should be carefully considered in steel assemblies with members subjected to compressive stresses, such as bracing systems and truss structures, in which angles and built-up steel sections are widely employed. These type of steel members are affected by torsional and flexural-torsional buckling, but the European (EN 1993-1-2) and the American (AISC 360-16) design norms do not explicitly treat these phenomena in fire situation. In this work, improved buckling curves based on the EN 1993-1-2 were extended by exploiting a previous work of the authors. Moreover, new buckling curves of AISC 360-16 were proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

The buckling curves provided in the norms and the proposed ones were compared with the results of numerical investigation. Compressed angles, tee and cruciform steel members at elevated temperature were studied. More than 41,000 GMNIA analyses were performed on profiles with different lengths with sections of class 1 to 3, and they were subjected to five uniform temperature distributions (400–800 C) and with three steel grades (S235, S275, S355).

Findings

It was observed that the actual buckling curves provide unconservative or overconservative predictions for various range of slenderness of practical interest. The proposed curves allow for safer and more accurate predictions, as confirmed by statistical investigation.

Originality/value

This paper provides new design buckling curves for torsional and flexural-torsional buckling at elevated temperature since there is a lack of studies in the field and the design standards do not appropriately consider these phenomena.

Details

Journal of Structural Fire Engineering, vol. 13 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-2317

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 17 October 2018

Decheng Li, Tiannian Zhou, Zegong Liu and Jian Wang

The purpose of this study is to investigate the transport phenomena of smoke flow in a semi-open vertical shaft.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the transport phenomena of smoke flow in a semi-open vertical shaft.

Design/methodology/approach

The large eddy simulation (LES) method was used to model the movement of fire-induced thermal flow in a full-scale vertical shaft. With this model, different fire locations and heat release rates (HRRs) were considered simultaneously.

Findings

It was determined that the burning intensity of the fire is enhanced when the fire attaches to the sidewall, resulting in a larger continuous flame region in the compartment and higher temperatures of the spill plume in the shaft compared to a center fire. In the initial stage of the fire with a small HRR, the buoyancy-driven spill plumes incline toward the side of the shaft opposite the window. Meanwhile, the thermal plumes are also directed away from the center of the shaft by the entrained airflow, but the inclination diminishes as HRR increases. This is because a greater HRR produces higher temperatures, resulting in a stronger buoyancy to drive smoke movement evenly in the shaft. In addition, a dimensionless equation was proposed to predict the rise-time of the smoke plume front in the shaft.

Research limitations/implications

The results need to be verified with experiments.

Practical implications

The results could be applied for design and assessment of semi-open shafts.

Originality/value

This study shows the transport phenomena of smoke flow in a vertical shaft with one open side.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 28 no. 11
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 29 October 2018

Enerst Shingai Chikosi, Shingirai Stanley Mugambiwa, Happy Mathew Tirivangasi and Sejabaledi Agnes Rankoana

Perceptions of climate change and its threats to rural communities are among major challenges faced by scientists around the world. A few studies prove that these communities are…

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Abstract

Purpose

Perceptions of climate change and its threats to rural communities are among major challenges faced by scientists around the world. A few studies prove that these communities are aware of change in climatic conditions and their impacts on people’s livelihoods. Climate change is usually perceived as increasing warming days, erratic rainfall patterns, ecological variability, biological change and their adverse effects on human beings. This study aims to assess Ga-Dikgale community’s perceptions on climate change and variability.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research method was adopted and community members of age 60 and above in GaDikgale community were purposively selected as participants in the study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, and thematic content analysis was used to analyse data.

Findings

The study found that the community perceives climate change and climate variability based on changes in temperature patterns, erratic rainfall patterns, seasonal change, depletion of biodiversity, decline in subsistence crop production, change in water quality and cessation of cultural activities.

Originality/value

The study concludes that community’s perceptions of climate change are largely centred on variations in temperature and rainfall patterns. It has been established that knowledge of climate change in rural communities is of paramount importance in as far as adaptation to climate hazards is concerned.

Details

International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, vol. 11 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-8692

Keywords

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