TIMBER

Thermal action on timber causes it to degrade through combustion of its chemical components, which leads to the release of vapors, combustible gases and char. This diminishes its load capacity due to the reduction of its cross section by charring and to changes in its mechanical properties of strength and stiffness as a function of its exposure to high temperatures. The charring rate of timber has been studied in several countries. It is known the results have been obtained in different ways for different species. The purpose of this paper is to study a charring behavior of three different species of wood, planted in Brazil (Eucalyptus grandis, Pinus Spp. and Goupia glaba). The results obtained from structural members are discusses by numerical and experimental means, Two methods proposed in standards currently used to determination of charring rate will be compared with the results obtained in this experimental and theoretical study. The numerically simulated temperatures obtained for the 10 mm depth were slightly lower than those obtained experimentally. Even so, the result obtained can be considered satisfactory considering the difficulties faced in obtaining thermal parameters for charre