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        <title>Frontiers in Built Environment | Fire Resistant Engineering section | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/built-environment/sections/fire-resistant-engineering</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Fire Resistant Engineering section in the Frontiers in Built Environment journal | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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        <pubDate>2026-04-15T14:14:26.733+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1777722</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1777722</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Experimental modeling study on mechanical smoke exhaust system during tunnel fire]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-16T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Zhen Liu</author><author>Rongxuan Zhao</author><author>Chuanhua Yu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionWith the rapid development of transportation infrastructure, highway tunnels have become vital transportation arteries. However, due to their enclosed and narrow structure, they face severe fire risks. Mechanical smoke extraction systems are core fire protection technologies in highway tunnels, among which the unilateral large-spacing point-type system is widely used in long tunnels. The efficiency of this system depends heavily on key parameters such as the distance between smoke vents and the fire source, and the installation position of longitudinal ventilation fans. However, there is insufficient research on the synergistic effects of these parameters and their performance under high-power fires.MethodTo address this gap, this study optimized the key smoke extraction system by focusing on these two parameters. Based on the Froude similarity criterion, a scaled tunnel model was constructed. Experiments were conducted under both natural and mechanical ventilation conditions, analyzing the smoke exhaust effect with different vent positions and fan locations.ResultsThe results showed that under mechanical ventilation, the smoke flow velocity and temperature increase monotonically decreased with the distance from the vent to the fire. The optimal fan position was found to be around 20 cm upstream of the fire, which maximizes the coupling synergy with near-field smoke. Increasing the fan distance flattened the attenuation of flow velocity and temperature in mid-to-distal vents.DiscussionThis study provides theoretical support for optimizing tunnel smoke extraction systems and aids efficient fire rescue, thereby contributing to the reduction of casualties and property losses.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1774708</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1774708</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Numerical simulation and analysis of smoke detector response to varying fire source locations in brick-timber heritage buildings: a case study of Kashgar old city]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Rongxuan Zhao</author><author>Zhen Liu</author><author>Xinwen Wang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionBrick-timber heritage buildings, characterized by masonry walls and extensive use of wood (e.g., poplar, pine) in structural elements, possess high historical and cultural value, yet this material composition makes them susceptible to fire hazards. Smoke detectors are critical devices for early fire warning, and their response characteristics in brick-timber ancient building fires are of paramount importance.MethodsThis study employs an integrated numerical simulation approach, utilizing the Pyrosim fire simulation software to model different fire scenarios in brick-timber ancient buildings, aiming to investigate the impact of fires on the response characteristics of smoke detectors. The study analyzes the smoke generation rate, temperature, and spread patterns from different ignition points—such as central fires, edge fires, and corner fires—within the complex spaces of ancient buildings, as well as the influence of these factors on the response time and sensitivity of smoke detectors.ResultsSimulation experiments indicate that when the fire source is located at the center of a room, the smoke detector triggers at 59.5 s; when the fire source is situated in a corner area of the room, the smoke detector triggers at 22.4 s; and when the fire source is positioned in the central hall area of the room, the smoke alarm triggers at 16 s. The findings reveal the variation patterns of smoke detector response characteristics in fire scenarios within brick-timber ancient buildings.DiscussionThis paper provides theoretical foundations and data support for optimizing the selection and layout of smoke detectors in ancient buildings, enhancing the reliability of fire warning systems, and improving the fire prevention and control capabilities of brick-timber ancient structures, thereby better preserving precious historical and cultural heritage.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1723119</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1723119</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Numerical analysis and theoretical calculation of tensile membrane action region of RC simply supported slabs under fire]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yan Jia</author><author>Qi Yang</author><author>Shanshan Wang</author><author>Da Yu</author><author>Fei Teng</author><author>Yuhui Yuan</author><author>Gengwen Guo</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Tensile membrane action (TMA) could significantly enhance the ultimate bearing capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) simply supported slabs under fire conditions. To address this, this paper proposes an analytical method for determining the ultimate bearing capacity of RC slabs at elevated temperatures by explicitly accounting for the influence of TMA. In this method, the TMA region is reasonably defined via equations for an elliptical boundary, and the coefficient of increase in ultimate load‐carrying capacity is derived. Through a combination of fire testing, numerical analysis, and theoretical calculations, the study investigated the TMA region and the increase in the ultimate bearing capacity, revealing that temperature changes have little effect on the geometry and size of the TMA region. Furthermore, upon comparing three failure criteria to validate the accuracy of calculations, it was found that a deflection limit of w = l/10 provided good agreement, thereby facilitating further analysis of the ultimate load‐carrying capacity of simply supported slabs.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1674644</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1674644</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Effects of fan placement on smoke spread and occupant evacuation in highway tunnel fires]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-11-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Zhen Liu</author><author>Rongxuan Zhao</author><author>Jixin Wang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionAs urbanization accelerates, highway tunnels are proliferating across China. Owing to their semi-enclosed geometry, the primary objectives in a tunnel fire are immediate smoke extraction and toxic-gas dilution to rescue trapped occupants. Yet current research struggles to capture long-range smoke spread in full-scale tunnels and often overlooks how the relative position between fans and the fire source affects flow patterns.MethodsTherefore, this study investigates highway-tunnel fire smoke and occupant evacuation using full-scale experiments, theoretical analysis and FDS simulations.ResultsUnder low-intensity fire conditions, the critical longitudinal wind speed ranges between 1 and 3 m/s. Ventilation velocity shows a positive correlation with smoke-layer thickness near the fire source, while back-layering length is negatively correlated with fan speed. Fan location significantly influences temperature, visibility and CO volume fraction. The closer the fan is to the fire, the lower the temperature, the higher the visibility and the smaller the CO volume fraction, all of which favor evacuation. At constant walking speed, shortening the fan-to-fire distance reduces both the required and available safe egress times, thereby accelerating evacuation.DiscussionBy linking back-layering length, temperature, visibility and CO volume fraction to evacuation time, this work provides both theoretical foundations and real-time data for tunnel emergency response, enabling rapid intervention and safeguarding lives and property.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1591865</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1591865</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Risk of fire in heavy vehicles in steep road-tunnels]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-08-08T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Tor-Olav Nævestad</author><author>Alena Katharina Høye</author><author>Jenny Blom</author><author>Lars Even Egner</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The present study examines the relationship between steep grades in road tunnels and the risk of heavy vehicle fires. The results show that fire risk in road tunnels increases with increasing maximum grade and with increasing length of steep grades. At grades above 7 percent, fire risk increases far more than at other grades, and 7 percent can be regarded as a “breakpoint” of increasing fire risk, especially among heavy vehicles. Subsea tunnels have far higher fire risk than other tunnels, mainly because they have both long and steep grades. The four most fire-prone subsea tunnels have grades over 7 percent that are more than 5 km long. These are the tunnels Oslofjord, Eiksund, Bømlafjord, and Byfjord. Most heavy vehicle fires in tunnels are caused by technical problems, mostly related to the engine. Overheating of the engine is often related to prolonged driving with a retarder downhill, followed by prolonged uphill driving. This pattern is typical in subsea tunnels. Overheating of engines is also often related to poor vehicle maintenance and insufficient vehicle inspections. To reduce heavy vehicle fire risk in tunnels, the most effective measure would be not to build tunnels with long steep grades (or to ban trucks from such tunnels). Other relevant measures to reduce vehicle fire risk include improved vehicle maintenance and inspections, as well as automatic fire extinguishing technology. Improved tunnel fire management, such as early detection and evacuation strategies, can contribute to avoid the most serious consequences. The introduction of new energy carries in the truck fleet, such as electric and hydrogen trucks, will affect both fire risk and fire management for heavy vehicles.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2024.1495594</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2024.1495594</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Analysis and mitigation of fire and explosion hazards in hospital environments from a biomedical engineering perspective]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-02-05T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Systematic Review</category>
        <author>Augusto Jorge Antonio Ibáñez-Cruz</author><author>Dante Espinoza-Morriberon</author><author>Alejandra Micaela Elena Vergara-Florián</author><author>William C. Algoner</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundHospitals are complex and dynamic facilities that house vulnerable people, medical equipment, and hazardous materials, making them susceptible to fires and explosions with potentially catastrophic effects. This study aims to understand and address fire and explosion risks in hospital environments using biomedical engineering, safety, and fire prevention concepts to develop effective mitigation strategies.Materials and MethodsThe study employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative techniques. Data from an insurance and reinsurance company in Peru were analyzed, and surveys, data analysis, and interviews were conducted. The preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) methodology was also applied to conduct a thorough literature review.ResultsThe results revealed the most frequent risk factors in hospital settings and identified the most effective mitigation strategies. Implementing these strategies resulted in a considerable decrease in the incidences of fires and explosions.DiscussionThe research provides a comprehensive explanation of hospital fire and explosion risks and proposes evidence-based strategies to improve the safety. These results underscore the relevance of biomedical engineering in managing risks within hospital settings. Despite certain limitations, the study lays a firm foundation for future research aimed at improving hospital safety.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2022.874372</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2022.874372</link>
        <title><![CDATA[An Analytical Method for Determining the Residual Strength of Reinforced Concrete Beam-Slab Specimens]]></title>
        <pubdate>2022-07-08T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yong Wang</author><author>Zhenxing Chen</author><author>Zhaohui Huang</author><author>Aolin Gu</author><author>Guanxu Han</author><author>Weixin Liu</author><author>Yajun Zhang</author><author>Bo Zhong</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This paper proposed one new method to determine the residual ultimate loads of the fire-damaged beam-slab specimens. Based on the conventional yield line method, the stiffness and deflection of the edge beam was considered to establish the theoretical method, and the residual ultimate loads of several beam-slab specimens in the literature were analyzed, and the predicted results were compared to the experimental results. Results show that the conventional simply-supported and fixed-end yield line method tended to underestimate or overestimate the residual ultimate loads of the specimens, and the present method can reasonably predict the ultimate loads of the beam-slab specimens.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2022.883454</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2022.883454</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Numerical Analysis on Post-Fire Resistance of High-Strength Circular CFST Stub Column in Axial Compression]]></title>
        <pubdate>2022-06-21T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jie Hu</author><author>Wei Li</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) structures using high-strength materials have been increasingly used in civil engineering due to their exceptional mechanical performance. A comprehensive numerical analysis was performed in this study, where a finite element model was established for a CFST stub column using high-strength materials with consideration of fire and load combinations. The influence of critical parameters to the resistance in axial compression were analyzed based on the verified model, including the fire exposure time, the axial load level, the confinement factor, etc. The results showed that the residual resistance of a high-strength circular CFST (HCFST) column in axial compression decreased with the increase of axial load level and fire exposure time, while it increased with the increase of material strength.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2022.907237</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2022.907237</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Performance-Based Structural Fire Engineering of Steel Building Structures: Traveling Fires]]></title>
        <pubdate>2022-06-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Erica C. Fischer</author><author>Amit H. Varma</author><author>James A. Gordon</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Many studies and observations of large building fires show that in large compartments, fires do not burn uniformly. Rather, fires will burn locally and move across a floor plate as fuel is consumed. Currently fire engineering practice assumes uniformly burning fires within a compartment and the fire design methodologies are based upon small compartment fire scenarios. Traveling fire modeling that accounts for fire dynamics is essential for performance-based fire engineering. This paper reviews two traveling fire models presented in literature and implements both models on a steel-frame building. An advanced analysis of the building is performed and the fire performance of the building in these travel fire scenarios are compared to the fire performance of the building when subjected to conventional fire exposure scenarios (full story fires or compartment fires). The authors then illustrate the use of structural fire engineering methodologies to improve the fire resistance of the building.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2022.861662</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2022.861662</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Fire Safety Risk Assessment of Workplace Facilities: A Case Study]]></title>
        <pubdate>2022-03-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Mohammad A. Hassanain</author><author>Mohammed Al-Harogi</author><author>Ahmed M. Ibrahim</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Workplace facilities are organizational capital assets, which entail high risks of fire occurrences. The fire risks increase based on occupants’ behaviors, lack of awareness and poor workspaces safety management. Thus, fire safety risk assessment is vital to raise awareness about workplace fire-safety culture, and to train employees on effective fire response requirements and methods. The literature lacks studies focusing on managing fire safety at the workplace, and limiting occupants dispossessed behaviors. This research presents a case study, which demonstrates the utilization of risk assessment for fire safety prevention in a workplace facility. Relevant literature is synthesized for identifying causes of fire, various propagation hazards, control measures to develop a risk assessment tool based on fire codes. The codes were analyzed by describing the requirements for fire safety precautionary measures, followed by an exemplary assessment. This research aims to provide professional practice and knowledge on the fire risk assessment methodology, serving safety professionals, and facilities managers. It serves to raise awareness on the causes of fire, consequences of fire events, and mitigation strategies in workplace facilities, for the purpose of protecting users’ lives and business properties against fires.]]></description>
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