Authors: E. M. M. Fonseca, D. R. S. M. Ferreira, L. M. S. Barreira

This paper describes the heat transient process in solids, or lumped capacitance method, considering the study of IPE profiles submitted to fire. Some solids have a thermal behaviour almost uniform during the heat transfer process. The temperature in these bodies may be considered a function of time, and the lumped capacitance method allows a great simplification and is generally accepted and available to Bi≤1. Therefore, the behaviour analysis of bodies with high thermal conductivity using this method is adequate. The same profiles were used through a two dimensional analysis in unsteady state using a finite element program. The lumped capacitance method permits to validate the obtained results in numerical simulation. The results are presented for discussion and analysis.

E. M. M. Fonseca¹ | D. R. S. M. Ferreira¹ | L. M. S. Barreira¹
1 Escola Superior de Tecnologia e de Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança