Dynamic Properties of Fire Sprinklers

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Dynamic Properties of Fire Sprinklers
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Master Thesis Defense

• For
• Jim Dillingham
• May 2002

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Introduction

• Project Description
• Construction of a Small Timber Building Model
• Longitudinal and Transverse Test Axis when on the
  3ft x 3ft Shake Table
• Four Designs were Tested , 3 CPVC, and 1 Steel

• Purpose of Research
• Large Consequences to Fire Sprinkler Failures

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Model Construction
The model being built to fit on the 3x3 shake
table
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2 of the 6 Hold-Downs to Attach Model to the
Shake Table
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Model Drawings
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Building Test Properties
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More Photos
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Sprinkler System Designs

• Types of sprinkler systems considered
• CPVC
• Steel
• Recording Locations
• Drops

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CPVC Design 1
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CPVC Design 2 And 3
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Steel Design
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Results
Frequency Test Range 10 25 Hz Fundamental
Frequencies Observed both Experimental and
Analytical
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CPVC Test Results
Test with the largest amplification recorded
(58x).
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Steel Test Results
Test with the largest amplification recorded
(35x).
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SAP2000 Results
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CPVC Design 1
Longitudinal Mode 2 36.5 Hz
Longitudinal Mode 1 15.1 Hz
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CPVC Design 1
Transverse Mode 1 15 Hz
Transverse Mode 2 35.2 Hz
Transverse Mode 3 36.7 Hz
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CPVC Design 2
Longitudinal Mode 1 15.1Hz
Longitudinal Mode 2 16.8 Hz
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CPVC Design 2
Longitudinal Mode 3 36.5 Hz
Longitudinal Mode 4 39 Hz
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CPVC Design 2
Transverse Mode 1 5.6 Hz
Transverse Mode 2 15.1 Hz
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CPVC Design 2
Transverse Mode 3 20.5 Hz
Transverse Mode 4 36.5 Hz
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CPVC Design 3
Longitudinal Mode 3 38.9 Hz
Longitudinal Mode 2 36.5 Hz
Longitudinal Mode 1 15.1 Hz
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CPVC Design 3
Transverse Mode 3 36.5 Hz
Transverse Mode 2 19.8 Hz
Transverse Mode 1 15 Hz
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Steel Design
Longitudinal Mode 2 45.2 Hz
Longitudinal Mode 1 14.2 Hz
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Steel Design
Transverse Mode 2 28.9 Hz
Transverse Mode 1 13.1 Hz
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Test Video
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Conclusions

• No Failures Occurred
• High levels of Accelerations were Recorded.
• CPVC is extremely Flexible
• Modulus of Elasticity 420,000 psi
• Accelerations in the Sprinkler System
• were Amplified over the Base Input

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• Securely Fixed Sprinkler Systems
• Respond to
• Buildings Fundamental Frequencies
• NFPA-13 1999
• Current Design Code
• Protects Systems from Dynamic Failures

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Potential For Future Research

• Larger more complicated sprinkler systems can be
  tested to witness shaking effects in different
  sized components.
• A model with multiple floors could test how
  flexible couplings react to inter-story drift.
• In a room-size model multiple interior objects
  can be studied to observe the interaction to a
  dynamic sprinkler system. Potential items are
  gypsum board, dropped ceiling grids, mechanical
  equipment, etc.

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THE END