Fire Simulation and Residual Strength Prediction Tool for Aluminum Ship Structures During and After Fire

A fully coupled fire-structure interaction module will be developed and implemented within GEM"s Abaqus Fire Interface Simulator Toolkit (AFIST) for fire response prediction in aluminum ship structures. This enhanced AFIST will be able to characterize a 3D complex geometry where its topology is not in conformation with a rectilinear CFD grid. An immersed boundary method developed by NIST will be generalized and integrated with the customized Fire Dynamics Simulator. A sharp interface characterization of the solid boundary will be created and the mapping of the boundary conditions from the interface to its immersed boundary nodes will be constructed through local interpolation. A kinematic description of the moving boundary will be accomplished via its coupling with Abaqus. GEM has secured commitments for the joint tool development and validation support from NIST and Virginia Tech, and application guidance from SGH and Navy Lab. The Phase II studies consist of the implementation of the immersed boundary method in AFIST, enhancement of material characterization of marine aluminums in AFIS, verification of the accuracy of the improved coupling method, exploration of the effects of structural deformation on the local flow field, and performance of structural level validation using NICOP and VT"s pool fire test data.