Thermal-structural behavior of wood truss floor assemblies under standard and natural fire conditions.

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Title: Thermal-structural behavior of wood truss floor assemblies under standard and natural fire conditions.
Authors: Ali, Syed Muhammad Shamaim1 (AUTHOR), Gernay, Thomas1 (AUTHOR) tgernay@jhu.edu
Source: Fire Safety Journal. Sep2026, Vol. 163, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Finite element method, Fire exposure, Computer simulation, Thermal stresses, Char, Fire resistant materials, Ventilation
Abstract: Wood truss floor assemblies are widely used in residential construction, yet their fire response remains insufficiently understood and is largely informed by empirical observations from standard fire tests. While numerical models can complement costly full-scale testing to evaluate fire performance across different designs and fire scenarios, robust modeling approaches are still lacking. Herein, the thermal-structural behavior of wood truss floor assemblies was numerically investigated under standard and natural fire scenarios. Finite element models were validated against eight full-scale ASTM E119 furnace tests on 1-h rated assemblies, with agreement in failure times and time-deflection behavior. The trusses failed structurally due to tensile failure of the bottom members, which experienced extensive charring. Parametric studies showed that fire resistance is governed primarily by truss bottom member size, while moisture content and wood strength have smaller influence. The performance of the truss assemblies was then analyzed under natural fire for different compartment sizes, fuel loads, and opening factors. The assembly response ranged from failure before 60 min to survival through burnout, depending on fire severity, with ventilation conditions playing a key role. These findings provide insights to optimize design of wood truss floor assemblies for improved fire performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Fire Safety Journal is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Thermal-structural behavior of wood truss floor assemblies under standard and natural fire conditions.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ali%2C+Syed+Muhammad+Shamaim%22">Ali, Syed Muhammad Shamaim</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gernay%2C+Thomas%22">Gernay, Thomas</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> tgernay@jhu.edu</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Fire+Safety+Journal%22">Fire Safety Journal</searchLink>. Sep2026, Vol. 163, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Finite+element+method%22">Finite element method</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fire+exposure%22">Fire exposure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+simulation%22">Computer simulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thermal+stresses%22">Thermal stresses</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Char%22">Char</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fire+resistant+materials%22">Fire resistant materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ventilation%22">Ventilation</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Wood truss floor assemblies are widely used in residential construction, yet their fire response remains insufficiently understood and is largely informed by empirical observations from standard fire tests. While numerical models can complement costly full-scale testing to evaluate fire performance across different designs and fire scenarios, robust modeling approaches are still lacking. Herein, the thermal-structural behavior of wood truss floor assemblies was numerically investigated under standard and natural fire scenarios. Finite element models were validated against eight full-scale ASTM E119 furnace tests on 1-h rated assemblies, with agreement in failure times and time-deflection behavior. The trusses failed structurally due to tensile failure of the bottom members, which experienced extensive charring. Parametric studies showed that fire resistance is governed primarily by truss bottom member size, while moisture content and wood strength have smaller influence. The performance of the truss assemblies was then analyzed under natural fire for different compartment sizes, fuel loads, and opening factors. The assembly response ranged from failure before 60 min to survival through burnout, depending on fire severity, with ventilation conditions playing a key role. These findings provide insights to optimize design of wood truss floor assemblies for improved fire performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Fire Safety Journal is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2026.104884
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 1
        StartPage: N.PAG
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Finite element method
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fire exposure
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer simulation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thermal stresses
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Char
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fire resistant materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ventilation
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Thermal-structural behavior of wood truss floor assemblies under standard and natural fire conditions.
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            NameFull: Ali, Syed Muhammad Shamaim
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            NameFull: Gernay, Thomas
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            – D: 01
              M: 09
              Text: Sep2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 163
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