Madera de eucalipto y teca: análisis del comportamiento físico y mecánico frente a la exposición al fuego

Abstract

This project aims to analyze the physical and mechanical properties of two wood species (Teak and Eucalyptus) before and after exposure to controlled fire to determine their strength and predict their behavior after being exposed to fire in different periods. In order to achieve the expected results, laboratory tests were conducted, such as compression, flexural, gas emission, moisture content, and thermal transmission, which consisted of designing specimens with the measurements specified in ASTM D 143 and then placing them in a refractory oven at times of 5, 10, and 15 minutes. The results reveal that when the specimens are exposed to fire, they lose more than 30% of compression strength compared to the standard sample. Eucalyptus had a higher moisture content, with a difference of 30% compared to Teak. Eucalyptus exposed to fire for 15 minutes emitted 330 PPM of CO, while Teak emitted 420 PPM; however, the release of other toxic gases was not detected. Elastic modulus results revealed that samples exposed to fire for 15 minutes lost more than 50% of elasticity compared to the standard samples. Thermal transmission showed that, over time, the temperature increases due to water evaporation from the fibers. The flexural test determined that samples exposed to fire lost more than 25% of their load-bearing capacity compared to samples under normal conditions.