Development of an interface between a CFD software and a FE software for compartment fires

The article presents the assumptions and the issues that arise when developing an integrated modelling methodology between a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software applied to compartment fires and a Finite Element (FE) software applied to structural systems. In particular, a weak coupling methodology used to simulate a fire exposed structure by modelling the fire development in the compartment, the heat penetration in the structure and the mechanical response is described. A practical application is also shown.