1. Thermal characterisation of the cooling phase of post-flashover compartment firesAndrea Lucherini, Balša Jovanović, Jose L. Torero, Ruben Van Coile, Bart Merci, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The main characteristics of the cooling phase of post-flashover compartment fires are studied using a simplified first-principles heat transfer approach to establish key limitations of more traditional methodologies (e.g., Eurocode). To this purpose, the boundary conditions during cooling are analysed. To illustrate the importance of a first-principles approach, a detailed review of the literature is presented followed by the presentation of a simplified numerical model. The model is constructed to calculate first-order thermal conditions during the cooling phase. The model is not intended to provide a precise calculation method but rather baseline estimates that incorporate all key thermal inputs and outputs. First, the thermal boundary conditions in the heating phase are approximated with a single (gas) temperature and the Eurocode parametric fire curves, to provide a consistent initial condition for the cooling phase and to be able to compare the traditional approach to the first- principles approach. After fuel burnout, the compartment gases become optically thin and temperatures decay to ambient values, while the compartment solid elements slowly cool down. For simplicity, convective cooling of the compartment linings is estimated using a constant convective heat transfer coefficient and all linings surfaces are assumed to have the same temperature (no net radiative heat exchange). All structural elements are assumed to be thermally thick. While these simplifications introduce quantitative errors, they enable an analytical solution for transient heat conduction in a semi-infinite solid that captures all key heat transfer processes. Comparisons between the results obtained using both approaches highlight how, even when considering the same fire energy input, the thermal boundary conditions according to the Eurocode parametric fire curves lead to an increase energy accumulated in the solid after fuel burnout and a delay in the onset of cooling. This is not physically correct, and it may lead to misrepresentation of the impact of post-flashover fires on structural behaviour.
Keywords: cooling phase, fire decay, fire dynamics, compartment fires, structural fire engineering, fire safety
Published in DiRROS: 15.04.2024; Views: 37; Downloads: 7
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2. An experimental apparatus for bench-scale fire testing using electrical heating padsAleksandra Seweryn, Andrea Lucherini, Jean-Marc Franssen, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: This research study concerns an experimental, budget-friendly, electricity- powered apparatus for bench-scale fire testing. The apparatus consists of various elements, of which the most important are ceramic heating pads, used to impose heat fluxes on exposed surfaces of specimens. The test method allows to control the heating pads’ temperature and to adjust the distance between the heating pads and the specimen to obtain well-defined heat fluxes up to 50–60 kW/m2. Higher heat fluxes and temperatures can be obtained by setting the heating pads in full power mode, with or without the use of a thermal shield, which can lead to heat fluxes up to 150 kW/m2. The heating and thermal boundary conditions imposed by the apparatus are characterised and discussed, and the thickness of the convective boundary layer at the heating pads’ surface is estimated significantly lower than in the case of gas- fired radiant panels. The performance of the apparatus is analysed for various conditions: controlling the temperature of the heating pads, in an open environment or with the presence of thermal shields, and in full power mode. A few examples of application of the apparatus to fire test typical construction materials (steel and glass) are also presented. These results emphasise the well-defined heating conditions in temperature-controlled mode. The study finally discusses the advantages and limitations of the apparatus, as well as many possibilities of future applications and improvement for future research studies.
Keywords: radiant panels, fire testing, heat transfer, heat flux, electrical heating pads, thermal boundary conditions
Published in DiRROS: 15.04.2024; Views: 20; Downloads: 6
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3. Diketopyrrolopyrrole pigment core@multi-layer ▫$SiO_2$▫ shell with improved photochemical stabilityErika Švara Fabjan, Zineb Saghi, Paul A. Midgley, Mojca Otoničar, Goran Dražić, Miran Gaberšček, Andrijana Sever Škapin, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: A model organic pigment (diketopyrrolopyrrole) is encapsulated by a silica coating in order to improve its photochemical stability. Unlike in previous works where single-layer silica coatings were used for similar purposes, we here propose creation of a multi-layer silica shell synthesized via in-situ sol-gel method, which should significantly improve the homogeneity and thus the protection ability of the coating. This is done by repeating the basic two-step process (pigment surface modification and silica encapsulation) several times, creating the final protective shell in a layer-by-layer fashion. The compositional and structural properties of the prepared coatings is studied using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential thermal and thermogravimetric analysis, nitrogen adsorption measurements and transmission electron microscopy. Photochemical stability of non-encapsulated and encapsulated pigment particles is evaluated via the so-called fast-irradiation method. Various correlations between the essential coating properties, such as thickness, porosity, SiO2 content, and the corresponding photochemical stability of the samples are established and discussed in detail. As a whole, our results confirm the basic hypothesis, that multiple-layered silica shells show improved pigment protection ability in comparison to the single-layer coatings.
Keywords: organic pigments, silica coating, encapsulation, morphology, photocemical stability
Published in DiRROS: 27.03.2024; Views: 87; Downloads: 43
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4. Trilinear embedding for divergence-form operators with complex coefficientsAndrea Carbonaro, Oliver Dragičević, Vjekoslav Kovač, Kristina Ana Škreb, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: We prove a dimension-free $L^p(\Omega)\times L^q(\Omega)\times L^r(\Omega)\rightarrow L^1(\Omega\times (0,\infty))$ embedding for triples of elliptic operators in divergence form with complex coefficients and subject to mixed boundary conditions on $\Omega$, and for triples of exponents $p,q,r \in (1,\infty)$ mutually related by the identity $1/p+1/q+1/r=1$. Here $\Omega$ is allowed to be an arbitrary open subset of $\mathbb{R}^d$. Our assumptions involving the exponents and coefficient matrices are expressed in terms of a condition known as $p$-ellipticity. The proof utilizes the method of Bellman functions and heat flows. As a corollary, we give applications to (i) paraproducts and (ii) square functions associated with the corresponding operator semigroups, moreover, we prove (iii) inequalities of Kato-Ponce type for elliptic operators with complex coefficients. All the above results are the first of their kind for elliptic divergence-form operators with complex coefficients on arbitrary open sets. Furthermore, the approach to (ii),(iii) through trilinear embeddings seems to be new.
Keywords: elliptic differential operator, p-ellipticity, operator semigroup, multilinear estimate
Published in DiRROS: 15.03.2024; Views: 82; Downloads: 48
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5. Weathering effects on cellulose acetate microplastics from discarded cigarette buttsBranka Mušič, Andrijana Sever Škapin, 2024, published scientific conference contribution (invited lecture) Abstract: Cellulose acetate, commonly used in cigarette filters, poses environmental concerns due to its questionable (bio)degradability and prevalent presence in nature. This study compares the weathering effects on two types of cigarette filters: traditional and newer filters used in heated tobacco devices (HTP). Microplastics were derived from used cigarette parts and then subjected to artificial aging. Analytical techniques (Thermogravimetry-Differential Scanning Calorimetry TG/DSC, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopic Analysis (FTIR)) and loose bulk density measurements were employed pre- and post-aging cellulose acetate of both types of samples. Despite increasing evidence influencing European Union (EU) directives on tobacco product disposal, there's a lack of systematic analysis on the weathering impact, especially concerning the touted environmental benefits of newer filters. Results indicate decreased particle size in cellulose acetate filters post-aging. Variances were observed in thermal behavior, yet FTIR spectra remained unchanged.
Keywords: cellulose acetate, cigarette filters, microplastics, artificial weathering, polymer degradation
Published in DiRROS: 12.03.2024; Views: 119; Downloads: 121
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6. Harmonised statistics and maps of forest biomass and increment in EuropeValerio Avitabile, Roberto Pilli, Mirco Migliavacca, Bogdan Grégory Henry E. Duveiller, Andrea Camia, Viorel Blujdea, Radim Adolt, Iciar Alberdi, Susana Barreiro, Susann Bender, Mitja Skudnik, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Forest biomass is an essential resource in relation to the green transition and its assessment is key for the sustainable management of forest resources. Here, we present a forest biomass dataset for Europe based on the best available inventory and satellite data, with a higher level of harmonisation and spatial resolution than other existing data. This database provides statistics and maps of the forest area, biomass stock and their share available for wood supply in the year 2020, and statistics on gross and net volume increment in 2010–2020, for 38 European countries. The statistics of most countries are available at a sub-national scale and are derived from National Forest Inventory data, harmonised using common reference definitions and estimation methodology, and updated to a common year using a modelling approach. For those counties without harmonised statistics, data were derived from the State of Europe’s Forest 2020 Report at the national scale. The maps are coherent with the statistics and depict the spatial distribution of the forest variables at 100 m resolution.
Keywords: harmonised statistics, harmonised maps, forest biomass, gorest increment, Europe
Published in DiRROS: 11.03.2024; Views: 105; Downloads: 50
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8. Vpliv temperature in gostote na mehanske lastnosti ekspandiranega polistirena : magistrsko deloJaka Vaupot, 2023, master's thesis Keywords: ekspandiran polistiren, tlačna trdnost, natezna trdnost, temperaturno utrujanje materiala, povišana temperatura, mikrostruktura, dimenzijska stabilnost, magistrsko delo
Published in DiRROS: 27.02.2024; Views: 120; Downloads: 37
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9. Rheological behaviors of waste polyethylene modified asphalt binder : Statistical analysis of interlaboratory testing resultsDi Wang, Andrea Baliello, Gustavo Pinheiro, Lily D. Poulikakos, Marjan Tušar, Kamilla Vasconcelos, Muhammad Rafiq Kakar, Laurent Porot, Emiliano Pasquini, Gaspare Giancontieri, Chiara Riccardi, Marco Pasetto, Davide Lo Presti, Augusto Cannone Falchetto, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: This article investigated the effect of waste polyethylene (PE) on the modified asphalt binders’ rheological behavior from a statistical point of view. The interlaboratory testing results from the RILEM Technical Committee 279 Valorization of Waste and Secondary Materials for Roads Task Group 1 were used for this purpose. First, an unaged 70/100 penetration graded neat binder was selected as the reference material. Next, a single 5 % content of waste PE additives (PE-pellets and PE-shreds) was mixed with a 95 % neat binder to prepare two PE modified binders. Then, dynamic shear rheometer–based temperature-frequency sweep tests were performed over a wide range of temperatures and frequencies to evaluate the rheological properties of these three binders. Different rheological behaviors were observed in the isochronal plots at high temperatures. Based on a reproducibility precision requirement proposed for phase angle, 28°C was set as the transition temperature across the rheological behaviors. Next, according to the three rheological behaviors defined in a previous study by the authors, statistical analysis was introduced to identify sensitive rheological parameters and determine the thresholds. Results indicate that the phase angle measured above 28°C and 1.59 Hz can be used as a sensitive parameter to discriminate the three rheological behaviors of PE modified binders. The thresholds among different behaviors were also calculated as an example for phase angle measured at the highest common testing temperature of 70°C. Additional experimental evaluations on more types of PE modified binders, especially at intermediate and high temperatures, are recommended to better understand their influence on the rheological behavior of PE modified binders.
Keywords: bitumen, polietilen, reologija, medlaboratorijska primerjava
Published in DiRROS: 20.02.2024; Views: 111; Downloads: 49
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10. SBA-15 mesoporous particles with adsorbed cresol red dye and functionalized with 3-aminopropyl groups : materials properties and dye release studiesErika Švara Fabjan, Romana Cerc Korošec, Klara Šifrer, Andrijana Sever Škapin, Ramon Martinez Manez, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Research in the field of sensing has focused on tailoring the responsiveness of materials through the variation in materials properties achieved via functionalization of the mesoporous matrix. pH indicator dyes capable of protonation/deprotonation reactions are known to display different forms, resulting in changes in colour. This research focused on the preparation of mesoporous substrates SBA-15 with integrated pH indicator dye o-cresolsulphonephtalein (cresol red) grafted with (3-aminopropy) trimethoxysilane (gaining functionalized-SBA-15 material) in order to gain a colour change response following release of the dye. UV-Vis reflectance and absorbance spectra were used to evaluate forms of cresol red. The textural properties, including specific surface area, pore size distribution and pore volume were evaluated using nitrogen sorption, and XRD analysis was conducted to evaluate crystallinity of the material and pore ordering. The presence of 3-aminopropyl groups was determined by thermal decomposition using TGA–DSC/MS. The functionalized SBA-15 materials loaded with cresol red mostly retained ordering of the pores and showed a slight reduction in surface area. Functionalization changed the surface properties of the material. In the non-functionalized SBA-15, cresol red was present in both double (H2L) and single (HL−) protonated forms, whereas in the functionalized SBA-15 the deprotonated L2−form prevailed. Through desorption experiments cresol red was successfully desorbed from selected sample to different media. The change of colour caused by alterations in the form of the dye once released from the mesoporous silica material into the medium was confirmed. The form of cresol red released was determined by the pH of the medium.
Keywords: mezoporozni materiali, SBA-15, funkcionalizacija, uravnavanje odzivnosti, zaznavanje
Published in DiRROS: 13.02.2024; Views: 138; Downloads: 75
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