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Charring rate of wood for ASTM E 119 exposure

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Abstract

Analytical methods that predict the endurance of structural wood members in a fire are based on the reduction of the cross section of the member caused by wood being charred. To define the charring rate in terms of more fundamental properties, empirical models were established. Eight species were tested for charring rates and material properties. Regression analysis was used to develop the models. The predictor variables for the initial factorial design included density, moisture content, treatability, and hardwood-softwood classification. The addition of char contraction simplified the model and reduced the predictor variables to the char contraction factor, density, and moisture content. Our results show the importance of surface recession and moisture content to wood charring.

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Abbreviations

a :

empirical parameter

b :

empirical parameter

c :

hardwood (−1)-sofwood (+1) classification

d :

depth of penetration in treatability test, mm

e :

error in estimate, min

f c :

char contraction factor, dimensionless

g :

empirical parameter

m :

reciprocal of charring rate as defined by Equation (8), min/mm

p :

density from oven-dry mass and volume, g/cm3

R :

correlation coefficient, dimensionless

t :

time, min

u :

moisture content, percent

x c :

char depth from original fire-exposed surface, mm

Z 1 :

empirical parameter with coefficient of 1 in Equation (11)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forest Products Laboratory, USDA Forest Service, One Gifford Pinchot Drive, 53705-2398, Madison, WI

    Robert H. White (Research Wood Scientist)

  2. Forestry Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 120 Russell Laboratories, 53706, Madison, WI

    Erik V. Nordheim (Professor of Forestry and Statistics)

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  1. Robert H. White
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  2. Erik V. Nordheim
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The Forest Products Laboratory is maintained in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin. This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and it is therefore in the public domain and not subject to copyright.

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White, R.H., Nordheim, E.V. Charring rate of wood for ASTM E 119 exposure. Fire Technol 28, 5–30 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01858049

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