Thermal-mechanical modelling of laminates with fire protection coating

This paper presents a modelling approach to analyse the protection provided by passive and intumescent surface coatings on glass fibre reinforced laminate substrates exposed to fire. The modelling involves a multi-stage analytical approach: (i) thermal analysis of heat transfer from the fire through the surface insulation coating, which includes decomposition and expansion in the case of an intumescent material; (ii) thermal-chemical analysis of heat transfer through the fibreglass laminate substrate (beneath the fire protective coating), including decomposition of the polymer matrix; and (iii) thermal-mechanical analysis of softening and failure of the laminate under in-plane tension or compression loading. The modelling approach is validated using experimental temperature and strength data from fire structural tests performed on woven glass-vinyl ester laminates insulated with passive (ceramic fibre mat) or organic intumescent surface coatings.