The effect of elevated temperature exposure on the thermal behaviour of insulated masonry walls

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to assess the thermal behaviour of insulated masonry walls subjected to a fire action with reference to the standard time‐temperature curve (EN1991‐1‐ 2). This forcing condition can affect substantially the development of temperatures through the examined building configurations. Nevertheless, the impact of fire exposure relies to a large extent on the position, the thickness and the flammability of the studied thermal insulation layer (EPS). In addition, this work is extended to address and analyse the effect of hollow clay‐brick elements as regards the thermal emissivity of air cavity surfaces. Reported results stress the influence of these issues on the developed temperatures of the unexposed surface. It is important to note that temperature profiles in this region indicate the fire resistance of masonry walls, with respect to the insulation criterion (I). In this context, a transient thermal model is introduced to unveil numerically the fire performance of the considered masonry walls (finite element method, FEM). A three‐dimensional finite‐element analysis is carried out to handle the fundamental heat transfer mechanisms, as well as to define the geometry of masonry walls, the properties of materials and the prevailing environmental conditions. To conclude, the findings of this investigation highlight the fire response of insulated masonry assemblies subjected to controlled temperature variations.