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Thermal analysis using ANSYS Workbench Program

Conference Paper · November 2022

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Manar Takla Ihssan Tarsha

Al-Baath University Al-Baath University
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 Thermal analysis using ANSYS Workbench
Program
Manar Takla1, Ihssan Tarsha2

1-AL-Wataniya Private University

[email protected]
2- AL-Wataniya Private University
[email protected]

Abstract:

Concrete structures are among the most common types of structural in the
World, so studying the behavior and collapse of these structures is one of
the most important fields of study. Failures occur in concrete structures
because of many factors such as earthquakes, explosions, landslides, fire,
and other causes. Fires still represent a prime threat to the safety of
facilities and their investors, despite the development of fire control
methods in engineering facilities and residential buildings. As it's known
that when the heat reaches a material, it absorbs it, so this heat will
change the properties of the material and change its behavior, so
understanding the behavior of materials at higher temperatures is very
necessary. An experimental and analytical study was performed on
models of reinforced concrete columns; to know the thermal distribution
using the thermocouple; that were installed at three points of the sample:
(middle of concrete, longitudinal reinforcement, and transverse
reinforcement). The temperature was measured at these points with time.
By comparing the average experimental with analytical results of the
temperatures measured at the thermocouples (1, 2, 3), which represent
(longitudinal reinforcement, concrete, and transverse reinforcement), the
percentage difference in the results was (3.8) %. Therefore, it is possible
to rely on the analytical model to know the heat distribution at different
temperatures and times rather than the experimental study.

Keywords: Temperature, thermocouple, thermal analysis, concrete,

ANSYS Workbench.

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Introduction:

Given that fires can result in both initial human casualties and subsequent
material and economic losses, as well as other adverse effects, the
vulnerability of structural concrete to fire represents one of the crucial
concerns that have to be investigated. Knowing how heat is distributed
inside structural elements is therefore crucial, especially in concrete
columns [1,2]. By using the necessary insulation methods, such as using
paint, cement mortar, or special materials for thermal insulation, we can
take the necessary measures to reduce the effect of heat on this structural
element if we know the temperature, which is expected to reach the center
of the element. Consequently, in this research, the temperature of three
samples of concrete columns was measured at three locations (concrete,
longitudinal reinforcement, and transverse reinforcement). The samples
were modeled using the ANSYS Workbench program to compare
analytical and experimental results, where the difference between them
reached 3.8%. As a result, the analytical model substitutes the empirical,
and we can modify a number of its parameters to address other issues.

Importance of research:

Due to the significance of concrete columns in structural buildings, they

were chosen as a case study. The engineer can predict the failure load
and the moment at which the failure occurs by understanding the heat
distribution in these columns and can then take the required precautions
before this happens.

Experimental study:

All experiments were performed in the casting and metal smelting

laboratory at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Al-Baath University
and the reinforced concrete laboratory at the College of Civil Engineering
at Al-Baath University as well.

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All required tests for the concrete and steel reinforcements, were
performed on three samples of concrete columns [3,4]. The thermal
conductivity coefficient of concrete (k) was measured using the Fourier
theory [5] and the value of k was 1.72 w/m.c. The compressive strength of
concrete was 21.5 MPa, the tensile strength of longitudinal reinforcement
was 454 MPa, and the tensile strength of stirrups reinforcement was 430
MPa. Concrete samples were placed in an electric furnace, and exposed
to heat from all four sides, as shown in figure (1).

Figure (1): The electric furnace is supplied with a concrete sample.

A longitudinal and cross-sectional view of the column indicating the

locations of the temperature sensors is shown in figure (2). The sample's
surface temperature was measured using the electric laser shown in
Figure (3), in order to produce a curve that links the sample's temperature
and oven temperature, based on how long the sample was exposed to the
fire. So it was possible to get the curve depicted in Figure (4).

Figure (2): A longitudinal and cross-section

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 Figure (3): A laser thermometer

Figure (4): Experimental temperature curve of the furnace and concrete surface

We established a relationship between the surface temperature and the

amount of time, figure (5), that it was subjected to fire using the Orign2019
program [6], and we input this equation, into the ANSYS program, to
perform thermal analysis.

Figure (5): the temperature of the concrete surface changing over time experimentally
and in accordance with the equation suggested
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Analytical study:

The finite element method was used to model a concrete column in Figure
(6), and the table (1) displays the thermal properties and elements that
were used to perform out the thermal analysis [7,8].

Figure (6): concrete and steel reinforcement model

Table 1. Thermal properties, elements used [9,10]

Density [Kg/m3] 2408
Specific heat [J]/ [Kg].[K] 1000
Concrete Solid70 Coefficient of thermal conductivity
1,72
[W]/ [m].[K]
Thermal expansion 1e-5
Density [Kg/m3] 7850
Specific heat [J]/ [Kg].[K] 600
Reinforcement
Link33 Coefficient of thermal conductivity
steel 45
[W]/ [m].[K]
Thermal expansion 1,3e-5

Results of research:

The thermocouples (1, 2, and 3), which stand for longitudinal

reinforcement, concrete, and stirrup reinforcement, were used to measure
temperature. Table (2) depicts the average analytical and experimental
results of these measurement techniques, and it is crucial to note that the
largest difference in the results is 3.8%.

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Table 2. Analytical and experimental results
thermocouple
Time (minute) 12 24 35 50 73 95 112 120
number

Experimentally 63.4 133.5 212 291.3 394.3 475 519 531

1
Analytically 62.5 136.9 208 285.3 388.2 467 516 535

Experimentally 23.8 59.5 107.3 178.6 284.3 378.2 426 460

2
Analytically 22 60.3 105.8 171 272.8 364.3 428 455.5

Experimentally 56 126.8 193.4 274.9 383.7 463.6 511.5 520.7

3
Analytically 64 135 199.3 277.2 379.5 458.3 507.3 527.1

The temperature response to the three points that represent the locations
of the thermocouples is represented experimentally and analytically in
Figures (7, 8, and 9). The three sites' analytical thermal response is
depicted in Figure (10). We notice that the thermal response of the first
point is higher than that of the third point, because the first point receives
heat from two sides, while the third point comes from one side.

Figure (7): Point 1's temperature response

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 Figure (8): Point 2's temperature response

Figure (9): Point 3's temperature response

Figure (10): Analytical thermal response to the three points

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We notice that the thermal response of the first point is higher than that of
the third point, because the first point receives the heat from two sides,
while the third point receives the heat from one side. Using the ANSYS
Workbench program [10], Figures (11, 12) show the thermal distribution of
concrete, longitudinal, and stirrup reinforcing steel.

Figure (11): Concrete's thermal distribution

Figure (12): the thermal distribution of the stirrups and longitudinal reinforcement.

Results:

1- It has been found that an analytical model may simulate the

experimental model accurately, eliminating the requirement for
experimental work and resulting in cost, effort, and timesaving.

2- The failure and design load of the structural element can be calculated
using the thermal analysis results. So when temperature distribution in a
structural element is obviously envisioned as a result of thermal analysis, it
is able to quantify the carrying capacity of the element based on how the

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properties of the materials that make up its composition change as the
temperature increases using the suggested relationships. Consequently,
we can take the required steps to protect the element from fire by applying
a variety of insulation technologies.

Recommendations:

1- Creating a comparison between the results after exposing the

samples to flame exposures, rather than the high temperature in an
electric oven.

2- Using cement mortar to insulate the samples, determining the

amount of heat diffusion in the concrete and steel reinforcement,
and comparing the results with the uninsulated samples to
determine the effectiveness of the insulation.

9
 Reference:
1. EC2 1992-1-2. Eurocode 2, "Design of Concrete Structures—Part 1-2, General
rules—Structural Fire Design," 2004.
2. ACI 216.1-14, "Code Requirements for Determining Fire Resistance of Concrete and
Masonry Construction Assemblies," 2014.
3. ASTM C39-72, ASTM E8M-13, ASTM C177-04, ASTM E1225-04, ASTM
International.
4. Ihssan Tarsha, Manar Takla, Effect of Fire on Confined Concrete Columns under
Axial Loading, IISTE: International Knowledge Sharing Platform, Vol.9, No.9, (2017).
5. Ihssan Tarsha, Manar Takla, Determination of failure load for structural elements
exposed to fire and comparison it to the design load according to isotherm500
method, Journal of Al- Baath University, Vol.41, (2019).
6. program for graphing & analysis vergion 19.
7. L.N.K.Sai Madupu,K.S.Sai Ram, Repair of Fire Damaged Axially Loaded short RC
columns Using GFRP Wrap, Civil Engineering and Architecture 9(6):2039-
2054,2021.
8. N.A. Zakaria, R. Ismail, F.A.A. Zakwan, H. Ahmad, M.F. Rosle, M.H.M. Hashim,
R.S.M. Rashid, Numerical investigation of fully confined RC column with carbon fiber
reinforced polymer when exposed to fire, Published by Elsevier Ltd, 2022.
9. Manar Takla, Ihssan Tarsha, Effect of Temperature on Carrying Capacity of
Concrete Columns Confined with Multi-layers of CFRP, Jordan Journal of Civil
Engineering, Vol. 14, No. 1, 2020
10. ANSYS Workbench. Manuals, 2020.

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