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FV2204 Computational Engineering
Assignment 2 Brief

The work should be word-processed, and submitted the hardcopy through the
SCOPE counter through CANVAS only. The deadline for submission is 7:30
pm on 06 April 2020 (Monday) 14 April 2020 (Tuesday).

Aims of Assessment
The module aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge and skills of using computing in
fire hazard analysis. This includes both essential numerical programming skills required to carry out
basic engineering computations within generic programming environments and application of
specialist software to solve typical computational problems of fire engineering.

Learning Outcomes
This piece of assessment will test your ability to meet learning outcomes 1-4 as described in your
module booklet: -

1. Use and apply Scilab to plot graphs of functions given both analytically and by the data from
text files. Incorporate those graphs into reports electronically
2. Apply standard numerical methods of computational engineering, e.g. curve fitting and
interpolation, solution of simultaneous linear equations, and statistical processing of
experimental data
3. Write Scilab scripts and function to carry out engineering computations and plot complex
graphs
4. Demonstrate the use of problem solution tools and evaluative skills in the selection of
appropriate methods of analysis

Assignment Details
• This is an individual assignment. Copying from the works of another person
constitutes plagiarism, which is an offence with the University’s regulations and will
result in a mark of ZERO for the assignment.
• This assignment requires the students to complete ALL questions as attached;
• The word limit is 2500 works (+/- 10%);
• All the assumptions/definitions, comments in the scripts and explanation in your
answers should be clearly stated due to be awarded;
• Submission of all input script files and snapshots of output results are required; and
• This assignment will carry 50% weighting of the total mark for this module.

Submission Details

This assignment should be submitted in hardcopy through the SCOPE counter at TSTE or Kowloon
Tong through CANVAS only by the deadline given above and No Hardcopy shall be required.
Submission of Turnitin Report is NOT required.



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Assignment Details (Learning Outcome: 1-4)

Q1. Consider a two stories school building consists of 2 no. multifunction rooms at G/F
and 5 no. classrooms at 1/F. The architectural layout of the school is shown in the
sketch below. The headroom of G/F and 1/F is 6 m and 4 m respectively. The multi-
function rooms at G/F may involve the usage as assembly hall, lectures or sports
centre. Each student shall use EVACNET to predict the egress time of the whole
building including G/F and 1/F under the following three scenarios. The details of the
study including the main assumptions of the population, calculation of supply data for
nodes and arcs, EVACNET network diagram with supply data, input script of
EVACNET, and screenshots of EVACNET output results and main findings shall be
reported.



a) Two staircases are available for evacuation;

b) The main entrance at G/F is blocked;

c) One of the staircases is blocked (* Student need to specify the blocked staircase.)
Multi-function
Room
Figure 2 - Layout Plan (G/F)
20 m
14 m
Not to scale

Figure 1 - Layout Plan (1/F)
Classroom
12 m 8 m
8 m 7 m 5 m
5 m
6 m
2 m
1m 1m
Classroom
Classroom Classroom Classroom
Legend:

Single leaf exit door
0.85m (W) * 2.1m (H)

Double leaves exit door
1.8 m (W) * 2.1m (H)

Multi-function
Room
8 m 8 m
1m
1m
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Q2. Consider the set of parametric equations:
() = 0.152
() = 0.152

Create the following plots on the same page:
(a) X versus t
(b) Y versus t
(c) Y versus X


Test Case:





Q3. Consider a T-square developing fire with the heat
release rate ̇(). It is assumed that the design fire will
develop from ignition to peak heat release rate ̇
in a t-squared growth rate and then burn out by a t-
squared decay rate with the same ratio. The profile is
illustrated as below:



Assume the fire class is labelled as
U – ultra-fast,
F – fast,
M – medium, and
S – slow.

Write a function using Scilab to read the label of fire
class and the developing time (T) from ignition to the
peak heat release rate and plot the heat release rate
̇() vs time . The peak heat release rate should be
automatically added to the plot title.


Test Case:

--> Q3_plot("F",100)





--> Q3_plot("U",300)



Q4. Consider steady heat conduction in composite plane walls illustrated as below.
According to Fourier’s law, the heat conduction rate () is proportional to the section
area ( ) and the change of temperature ( ∆ ) between surfaces of the single
homogenous solid.
Time (seconds)
Heat release rate (kW)
T
̇
̇ = ∙
2

Fire class Fire growth rate,
(/2)
Ultra-fast 0.1876
Fast 0.0469
Medium 0.0117
Slow 0.0029


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Write a Scilab function to read the input parameters in a text file based on the
specified format. For example:

“Input.txt” Remarks:
500 25
10 4
1.1 125
0.59 30




Assume the composite plane walls have 2 or 3 different materials. Try to estimate the
heat transfer rate () and the inner surface temperature and use Scilab to plot the
surface temperature verse the distance from the origin of heat flow path.

Test Case:












Since heat flow through all sections must be SAME

= −
(2 − 1)

= −
(3 − 2)

= −
(4 − 3)



Solving the equations would result in

=
1−4
/()+/()+/()


2 = 1 −




3 = 2 −




4 = 3 −




1 2 3 4
Where:
– heat loss rate, W
– Thermal conductivity of material A, / ∙
– Thickness of material A, m
– Thermal conductivity of material B, / ∙
– Thickness of material B, m
– Thermal conductivity of material C, / ∙
– Thickness of material C, m
– Surface temperature at position i=1,2,3,4, K


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Q5. The following equations are used to calculate the thermal response of a detector or
sprinkler located at or near a ceiling whose area is large enough to neglect the effects
of smoke layer development. When the detector or link temperature reaches its
activation temperature, then the detector will be activated.

The rate of temperature rise of the detector response is modelled by

,+∆ − ,
∆
= (,+∆ − ,) (1 −
−
1
) + (,+∆ − ,)(
−
1
+
1

− 1)

Where
=

√,

, =
{

0.95(
̇

)
1
3,


≤ 0.15
0.2
̇
1
3
1
2

5
6
,


> 0.15


, =
{

∞ +
16.9̇
2
3

5
3
,


≤ 0.18
∞ +
5.38

(
̇

)
2
3,


> 0.18


̇ Total theoretical fire heat release rate at time (kW)
Radial distance of the detector/sprinkler from the vertical axis of the fire (m)
Response Time Index of detector/sprinkler
,+∆ Temperature of the jet at the next time step, + ∆ (
oC)
, Temperature of the jet at the previous time step, (
oC)
∞ Ambient space and initial detector/sprinkler temperature (
oC)
, Detector or sprinkler temperature at time, (
oC)
Detector or sprinkler activation temperature, (
oC)
, Velocity of the ceiling jet gases at the time step, (m/s)
Vertical entrainment distance; the difference between the height of the ceiling and
the base of the flames (m)

Assume the fire will develop as a t-square growth fire. Four fire classes “U” – ultra-
fast, “F”- fast, “M” – medium and “S” – slow will be considered, same as the
definition in question Q3.

Write a Scilab and define the required input parameters such as detector/sprinkler
information, fire class, initial ambient temperature and time step as the input
parameters. Use the above equations to estimate the activation time of the
detector/sprinkler ( , ) and required heat release rate to activate the
detector/sprinkler. Try to plot the detector temperature (,) , ceiling jet temperature
(,) and heat release rate versus time. The generated results are also required to be
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automatically saved to a text file in the following format. First 10 rows and last 10
rows in the exported txt file should be attached as a reference.

Test Case:






















Marking Criteria for Assignment

The submitted assignment will be marked according to the following criteria:

Questions Marking Allocation Marking Criteria
Q1 30 Demonstrate the use of EVACNET and evaluative
skills on the designed evacuation scenarios to
estimate the egress time for the building
Q2-Q4 45 Use and apply Scilab to plot graphs of functions
given and read input data from external text file to
generate sound outcomes or findings.
Q5 25 Use and apply Scilab to carry out numerical
methods of computational engineering and plot
complex graphs
Total 100


– END OF ASSIGNMENT –