About SAFIR

SAFIR is a specialized computer program developed to simulate the behavior of building structures exposed to fire conditions. Created by Jean-Marc Franssen at the University of Liège and Thomas Gernay, SAFIR assists engineers and researchers in evaluating structural performance during fire events.

Purpose and Functionality: The primary purpose of SAFIR is to model the thermal and mechanical responses of structures subjected to fire. Users input fire scenarios through various methods, including gas temperature-time curves, net heat flux on structural surfaces, or data from localized fire models and computational fluid dynamics simulations. SAFIR calculates the temperature evolution within structural elements, which can be discretized in 2D or 3D, and subsequently determines the mechanical response of the structure under these conditions.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Material Modeling: Supports various construction materials such as steel, concrete, timber, aluminum, gypsum, and thermal insulation products, allowing for detailed analysis of diverse structural systems.
• Versatile Structural Elements: Capable of modeling 3D frameworks of beams and columns, planar elements like slabs and walls, and volumetric elements for detailed analysis of structural connections.
• Advanced Fire Scenario Integration: Interfaces with multiple fire models through gas temperature-time curves, net heat flux inputs, and data from localized fire models and CFD simulations.
• Thermal and Structural Analysis: Performs coupled thermal and mechanical analyses to predict temperature distribution and structural behavior during fire exposure.
• User-Friendly Preprocessor: Utilizes GmSAFIR, a free and open-source preprocessor, to facilitate model creation.
• User-Friendly Postprocessor: Utilizes DIAMOND, a free postprocessor to visualize the results.

Applications:

• Structural Fire Engineering: Assists engineers in designing fire-resistant structures and evaluating existing buildings' performance under fire conditions.
• Research and Development: Supports academic and industrial research focused on structural fire behavior, material behavior at elevated temperatures, and structural resilience.
• Safety Assessment: Enables safety professionals to assess potential fire impacts on structures, contributing to the development of effective fire protection strategies.

Authors

Jean-Marc Franssen

Thomas Gernay

WEBSITE

Reference Publication