Modelling flaming combustion in glass fibre-reinforced composite laminates

A heat transfer model based on the well-known Henderson equation has been modified to allow for self-sustained ignition and the flaming combustion phenomena of E-glass fibre-reinforced epoxy composites to be predicted from first principles using known thermal-physical and thermodynamic data for their constituents. The modifications consider: (1) the assignment of thermodynamic conditions (e.g. ignition temperature and mass flux of volatiles) necessary and sufficient to trigger self-sustained ignition, and (2) the inclusion of an integrated loop allowing the heat energy generated from the flaming combustion process to be fed back into the burning laminate. The model compares moderately well with experimental results obtained from cone calorimetric measurements. The additional modelling capabilities considered in this study provide the basis for an analytical model that can more accurately predict the thermal response and flaming combustion of glass fibre-reinforced polymer composites exposed to a one-sided radiant heating environment in the presence of an ignition source.