Glowing connections

This paper gives the results of a series of experiments and how they shed light on problems of electrical fires. Experimental glowing connections were made by allowing wires to make poor contact with another object in series in a circuit. Note: The information in this paper was presented in the course “Electrical fires” at the University of Wisconsin—Extension, Madison, Wisconsin, April 1982.     

"Composition" and regularisation of architectural production in contemporary China

The purpose of this paper is to explore how the “Beaux-Arts” “composition” sustained the constitution of design principles for architectural production in China in the last two decades of the twentieth century. “Composition”, a key technique of the “Beaux-Arts” system, is not a simple act of “putting elements together” into a unified whole, but also relates to an array of different “constructions” of architectural knowledge which regulate and sustain the act of design. Through analysing the structure of three “textbooks” published in the early 1980s, this paper examines three aspects of the “constructions”: the setting up of the principles for governing architectural forms, regularisation of design methods and approaches for architectural practice, and the construction of a “tradition” for the expression of “Chineseness”.     

Post-crash fire testing of titanium fuselages

The problem … maintain fuselage integrity and a survivable cabin environment during a post-crash fire. Its high melting point made titanium an attractive candidate for the large-scale test discussed here. Note: This paper is an adaptation of Report No. FAA-RD-71-3, “Titanium Fuselage Environmental Conditions in Post-Crash Fires,” prepared by the author for the Federal Aviation Administration. The report was also the basis for Mr. Sarkos’ presentation at the 75th Annual Meeting of the National Fire Protection Association in San Francisco on May 18, 1971.     

A computer technique for predicting smoke movement in tall buildings

An approach to the analysis of stack effect has been developed which allows the prediction of internal air flow quantities and associated pressure differentials for specific buildings prior to construction. An example of the application of this analysis is presented for a hypothetical 75-story office building. Note: The authors presented this paper at a symposium on “The Control of Smoke Movement on Escape Routes in Buildings,” sponsored by the Joint Fire Research Organization and held on April 9 and 10, 1969 in Hertfordshire, England.     

Evaluation of chemical stability

The author discusses a system of 3 simple, time and material saving tests that may be used to give an indication of the explosion potential of chemicals. Note: This paper was presented at the Summer Conference of the National Academy of Science Committee on Hazardous Materials, New London, Conn., July 8–9, 1970; and is a revision of an earlier paper titled “Hazard Evaluation Testing: A System for the Classification of Chemicals,” which was presented at the 64th Annual Meeting of the AIChE, March 16–20, 1969 and was published inLoss Prevention, Vol. 3.     

Use of gestalt in wayfinding design and analysis of wayfinding process

The authors brought forward the definition of “Gestalt space” and indicated this kind of space can be easily cognized. Three experiments showed that “classification” and “grouping” are the human strategies to solve wayfinding problems. “Similarity” and “Legibility” of the space are advantageous to help people to complete wayfinding tasks. The designer should provide the essential “Legibility” in Gestalt space, by using some techniques such as “break” and “accession” to settle the wayfinding problem. __________ Translated from Architectural Journal, 2007, (5): 89–91 [译自: 建筑学报]     

The Ellis parkway and gary dwelling burns

The author reports on two full-scale experimental building fires, the results of which suggest that fire spread through a subdivided structure can be described as a series of predictable flashovers. IIT Research Institute Note: The experimental fires discussed in this paper were mentioned briefly in “Studies of Building Fires with Models,” F. Salzberg and T. E. Waterman,Fire Technology, Vol. 2, No. 3 (August 1966), p. 198.     

Sprinkler performance tests—The extended coverage panacea

Performance testing of multiple extended coverage sidewall sprinklers indicates that these sprinklers, installed on spacings that are multiples of specified room areas with ceiling heights up to 9 ft, perform comparably to single sprinkler per room installations under fire conditions. Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Note: Mr. Suchomel and Mr. Castino are Associate Managing Engineer and Managing Engineer of the Laboratories' Fire Protection Department. Mr. Castino presented this paper, under the title “Fire Performance Tests of Sprinklers Under Simulated Field Installation Conditions—The Extended Coverage Panacea,” at the NFPA Fall Meeting on November 12, 1979 in Phoenix, Arizona.     

Ignition or the flame-initiating process

An understanding of ignition enhances fire prevention efforts. The principles discussed here analyze electrical sources (electrostatic and break sparks), hot surfaces (such as functional sparks, heated surfaces), hot gases and hypergolic ignition. The variations encountered in the ignitibilities of combustible gas mixtures are noted and explained. Note: This article is an extract from Information Circular 8137 issued by the Bureau of Mines entitled “Review of Fire and Explosion Hazards of Flight Combustibles” (1963).     

Fire research in scandinavia—A long-term program

The author contends a great imbalance exists between two fundamental concepts in designing buildings. On the one hand, considerable care and thought go into designing for static and dynamic loads; but design for fire resistance is dealt with in an extremely conventional and stereotyped way. He feels it is essential—in Scandinavian and in other countries—that long-term experimental and theoretical research programs be undertaken so that design for fire resistance can be carried out in conformity with fundamental principles conventionally used in static design of load-bearing structures. Note: This article is based on Proceeding No. 129 (1964), “General Programme for Scandinavian Long-term Research,” of the National Swedish Institute for Materials Testing, (Statens Provningsanstalt), Stockholm, Sweden.     

Housing management matters: Citizenship and managerialism in the new welfare market

This paper addresses three neglected issues in the restructuring of housing policy and provision in the UK in the 1980s and 1990s: first, the relationship between welfare restructuring and management regimes; second, the nature of local variations in the impact of welfare restructuring; and third, the significance of human agency interpretations of change. The paper starts by summarizing the main features of welfare state restructuring and then considers recent manifestations of citizenship and managerialism in housing. Three competing conceptions of citizenship rights are used to examine changing notions of welfare: “market efficiency”, “institutionalized rights” and the “radical challenge” provided by social movements. A four-part typology of the main concepts and themes in the “new public management”—“efficiency”, “downsizing and decentralization”, “excellence” and “public service”—is used to present the main components of change in management regimes. The paper draws on literatures on housing management, citizenship and “the new public management” and on recent research into tenant participation, housing rights and housing advice services. Conclusions are drawn about how tensions between different conceptions of citizenship and public management are implicated with national and global influences at the local level to create particular welfare outcomes.     

Fire resistance versus flame spread resistance

Current fire resistance tests of compartment boundary materials should be referred to as “fire spread resistance” tests. Unless additional fire protection measures have been taken, compartment boundaries are rarely able to prevent the spread of fire out of the space of origin. The true fire resistance of all key building components, therefore, must be judged on ability of those components to withstand fire exposure from two sides. Note: Dr. Harmathy is a research officer in the Fire Research Section, Division of Building Research, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa.     

Flammability tests for cellular plastics—Part I

Many tests have been employed to describe the behavior of cellular plastics when exposed to fire. In this, the first part of a two-part article, the author discusses the requirements of various small-, medium-, and large-scale tests. Union Carbide Corporation Note: Based on a paper titled “The Flammability Characteristics of Cellular Plastics” delivered by the author at the May 1967 Polymer Conference at Wayne State University and subsequently published in the September 1967 issue ofIndustrial & Engineering Chemistry, Product Research and Development.     

Flammability tests for cellular plastics—Part II

In our last issue, the author examined the requirements of various tests employed to determine the flammability of cellular plastics. Here, he discusses a system of four tests used by Union Carbide, and the thinking behind its application for product evaluation and as research and development tool. Union Carbide Corporation Note: Based on a paper titled “The Flammability Characteristics of Cellular Plastics” delivered by the author at the May 1967 Polymer Conference at Wayne State University and subsequently published in the September 1967 issue ofIndustrial & Engineering Chemistry, Product Research and Development.     

Simulation of a building and its HVAC system with an equation solver: Application to benchmarking

The today-availability of powerful engineering equation solvers is opening very new possibilities in technical component modelling and in system simulation. The simulation models, the “user guide” and the “reference guide” are all included in a same file. Reliable “reference” and “simplified” models are currently available for the building zone and for most (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) HVAC components. Focus is given here on “simplified” models and on a simulation tool, called “Benchmark”. This tool should help an auditor to make the best use of the limited information usually available about actual fuel and electricity consumptions and to get a very first evaluation of the actual performances of a given HVAC system. An example of such use is presented. Another simulation tools and more information about the modelling of HVAC components will be presented in a further paper.     

Stability — The key to effective high expansion foam,part II

In Part I, the author reviewed the fundamentals of high expansion foam and examined the findings of tests made to evaluate it. In this, the concluding part of the paper, he discusses the effects of automatic sprinklers on high expansion foam. Walter Kidde & Company, Inc. Note: References 1–8, Tables 1 and 2, and Figures 1 and 2 will be found in Part I of the article published inFire Technology, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Feb. 1970), pp. 39–51.     

Applied Heat Flux Distribution and Time Response Effects on Cone Calorimeter Characterization of a Commercial Flexible Polyurethane Foam

The burning behavior of a commercial flexible polyurethane foam has been studied in a cone calorimeter using standard ASTM procedures. It is shown that burning takes place in two distinct stages, with the first primarily due to the release of species derived from the isocyanate used in the manufacture of the foam and the second due to species derived from the polyether component. Experiments showed that approximately 40% of the original foam mass is lost during the first burning stage. Due to the low density and high flammability of the foam, burning takes place at a high rate, and experimental times are relatively short. As a result, the heat release rates measured by the cone calorimeter are distorted by the non-uniform heat flux distribution of the cone heater over the sample volume and the instrument’s finite time response. Two heat release models were developed and applied to approximately correct for the effects of finite time response and non-uniform heat flux distribution. Values reported include mass loss rate, heat release rate, heat of combustion, and heat of gasification for each of the burning stages. The measurement results are compared with earlier published findings for similar foams. The results are found to fall into two distinct classes with different heat release rate behaviors. Possible reasons for the differences are discussed.     

Mechanisms of large-scale landslides in China

Large-scale landslides in western China are famous for their size, complex formation mechanism and serious destruction. Data were collected from some typical large-scale landslides in mainland China in the 20th century. A number of geo-mechanical models have been identified: the “three sections” model (sliding; tension cracking; shearing), “retaining wall collapse”, “horizontal-pushing” in horizontal strata; large-scale toppling in counter-inclined strata; the creep-bending–shearing model etc. Large-scale rock landslides are generally accompanied by sudden brittle failure of the “locking section” along the potential sliding surface. The paper discusses the importance of this “locking section” which is key to assessing slope geohazard and to the development of control/mitigation measures.     

A design method for seepage barriers with allowance for the initial filtration gradient

A method is presented for calculation of the basic parameters of an anti-seepage “wall” with allowance for the initial filtration gradient of the filler material. The case of plane-radial seepage through a contour “wall” of the perfect and imperfect type, which is constructed by various modifications of the “wall-in-the-ground” method and using kinematic jet energy, is discussed. Computational analytical relationships and working equations for a number of special cases are derived in general form for the schemes under consideration. A software package, which makes it possible to make a rational projection of structural parameters of the “wall” and determine the position of the depression curve ahead of the “wall,” is developed. Translated from Osnovaniya, Fundamenty i Mekhanika Gruntov, Nos. 4–5, pp. 37–42, July–October, 1998.     

Location-allocation aspects of Tinbergen-Bos systems

Tinbergen-Bos Systems (TBS) operationalise L?sch's general spatial economic equilibrium model in terms of “centers” (clusters of activities) and “systems” (combinations of centers). The initial specifications are generalised to a non-discrete metric, and a method is derived to solve the resulting location-allocation problem by linear programming. Applications are presented, the conclusion being that the way is paved to handle large quasi-dynamic TBS, allowing to study the evolution of “economic landscapes”. Received: December 1997/Accepted: May 1998