1. Dynamic Properties of Fire Sprinklers

2. Master Thesis Defense For Jim Dillingham May 2002

3. Introduction Purpose of Research:  Large Consequences to Fire Sprinkler Failures 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

4. Model Construction The model being built to fit on the 3’x3’ shake table

5. 2 of the 6 Hold-Downs to Attach Model to the Shake Table

6. Model Drawings

8. Building Test Properties

9. More Photos

12. Sprinkler System Designs: Types of sprinkler systems considered  CPVC  Steel Recording Locations  Drops

13. CPVC Design 1

14. CPVC Design 2 And 3

15. Steel Design

16. Results Frequency Test Range 10 – 25 Hz Fundamental Frequencies Observed both Experimental and Analytical

17. CPVC Test Results Test with the largest amplification recorded (58x).

19. Steel Test Results Test with the largest amplification recorded (35x).

21. SAP2000 Results

22. CPVC Design 1 Longitudinal Mode 2 36.5 Hz Longitudinal Mode 1 15.1 Hz

23. CPVC Design 1 Transverse Mode 1 15 Hz Transverse Mode 2 35.2 Hz Transverse Mode 3 36.7 Hz

24. CPVC Design 2 Longitudinal Mode 1 15.1Hz Longitudinal Mode 2 16.8 Hz

25. CPVC Design 2 Longitudinal Mode 3 36.5 Hz Longitudinal Mode 4 39 Hz

26. CPVC Design 2 Transverse Mode 1 5.6 Hz Transverse Mode 2 15.1 Hz

27. CPVC Design 2 Transverse Mode 3 20.5 Hz Transverse Mode 4 36.5 Hz

28. CPVC Design 3 Longitudinal Mode 3 38.9 Hz Longitudinal Mode 2 36.5 Hz Longitudinal Mode 1 15.1 Hz

29. CPVC Design 3 Transverse Mode 3 36.5 Hz Transverse Mode 2 19.8 Hz Transverse Mode 1 15 Hz

30. Steel Design Longitudinal Mode 2 45.2 Hz Longitudinal Mode 1 14.2 Hz

31. Steel Design Transverse Mode 2 28.9 Hz Transverse Mode 1 13.1 Hz

32. Test Video

35. 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

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

37. 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.

38. THE END