Response of mass timber elements subjected to full burnout fires

The title of my suggested research topic is ''Response of mass timber elements subjected to full burnout fires''. This is recognised as a significant research gap that is attracting considerable interest in the scientific and industrial literature at the moment, due to the uncertainties and challenges that it poses for designers and engineers.

The interaction of fire decay phase with timber elements' cooling phase has critically important impacts on the residual structural capacity of mass timber structural elements, and hence affects the overall building stability. There remain many unexplained phenomena when it comes to the material response of timber under load and when cooled. In terms of structural engineering, measuring the strength and stiffness recovery of mass timber elements after it has been heated and cooled will be used to determine to what extend timber recovers after a fire.

Since mass timber elements are composites, the assessment of the adhesive performance will be a complementary addition to this study. Finally, the influence of moisture is often overlooked when analysing structures in the cooling phase. Where the timber is not charred nor pyrolyzed, the change in moisture content can have a considerable negative impact, even beyond that of elevated temperatures; an aspect which will also be analysed.

The proposed research analysis will consist of 3 stages. An extensive literature review is planned for Stage 1. Stage 2 will include experimental work where small - and medium-scale tests will be performed under the application of heat and load.

Finally, in Stage 3, a parametric analysis of the results will be performed and discussed, and predictive models will be developed and used to develop practical design and analysis guidance for use by engineers (which is necessary to maximise research impact).

Conduction and realisation of every step of the research, as well as the intended work publication or presentation, will be thoughtfully communicated with and guided by the supervisors of the project.

Knowledge about the performance of mass timber elements in recovery phase will enhance the safe design of sustainable buildings by addressing the important fire safety risks and post-fire performance.