Influences of Species and Density on the Horizontal Flame Spread Behavior of Densified Wood

Abstract

Densified wood possesses outstanding mechanical properties and serves as a desired construction material for modern timber buildings. However, the limited research on its flame behavior hinders its broader applications. The authors of this paper experimentally and analytically investigated the influence of wood species and density on horizontal flame spread behavior. Densified oak and densified fir were tested. The flame spread rate decreased with wood density in both densified wood types. Their values were close at the same density. The mass loss rate (m˙) of the densified wood decreased with the increase in wood density. The densified oak had higher m˙ due to its lower lignin content. Dimensionless correlations between the m˙ and density were obtained which agree with the experiments. The flame heights (Lf) of the densified wood also decreased with the increase in wood density. The densified oak had higher Lf due to its higher m˙. As the densified wood density increased, the radiation (and conduction) was reduced (and enhanced), but the convection remained constant. The densified oak had lower convection, lower conduction, and higher radiation than the densified fir at the same density. Gas-phase heat transfer was dominant in the flame spread of the densified wood, but conduction was also significant as its contribution can be as high as 70% of gaseous heat transfer.