Under the direction of Drs. Shijin Kozhumal and Greg Gorbett and with support from a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) grant, student research assistants, Maggie Fluharty and Molly Morrow, are engaged in a unique opportunity that will prepare them for future careers. The faculty-student research team is collecting thermophysical property data for the purpose of developing gypsum thermo-chemistry models that can be used for numerical prediction of gypsum calcination under fire exposure. Gypsum plasterboard (drywall) is commonly used in building construction and has fire-resistant properties. It undergoes a process of calcination when exposed to fire. The calcination leaves fire patterns that fire investigators can use in determining origins and causes of fires. As pictured, students are working on experiments with a gypsum board exposed to controlled heat flux to validate the numerical models developed in the project.
Building upon a previous NIJ-funded study, the current research involves various types of wall lining materials such as moisture-resistant drywall, mold and mildew-resistant drywall, fire-resistant drywall, and sound-absorbing drywall, all of which contain different elements to provide the desired characteristics. The research involves developing variable heating rate thermo-chemistry models for wall lining materials by using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to characterize the calcination of gypsum boards. A three-dimensional computational model will be validated through controlled experiments with microscopic and elemental analyses. The goal is to produce a user-friendly executable file that can be made available to assist fire investigators in estimating the depth of calcination based on known fire spread history or an output from computational tools such as the Fire Dynamics Simulator. A database of material, thermo-physical, and thermo-chemical properties of different wall lining materials is also being developed.
Molly came to EKU knowing she wanted to pursue investigative studies, but she did not immediately know what kind. She developed an interest in fire science and has been actively engaged in preparing for a career in fire investigation. She appreciates the opportunity her research experience has given her to “broaden what I know and develop a better understanding of aspects of fire.” It has also provided the opportunity to expand her connections for networking and learning from experts in the field. She recently had the opportunity to present her research at an International Association of Arson Investigators conference, an experience for which she is grateful.
Molly’s involvement with this project “fueled my interest and hooked me on this field.” She hopes to work as a fire investigator after graduation. For Maggie, the experience has provided an opportunity to “know what goes on behind the scenes” that she would not otherwise have experienced. She aims to work for a government agency as a forensic
scientist after graduate school, and she is thankful her work on the NIJ grant allows her to understand both field work and analytical work.
Both Maggie and Molly are thankful for the opportunity to engage in paid hands-on work experience that directly prepares them to meet their career goals and for the effective mentorship of Drs. Kozhumal and Gorbett.
“The NIJ grant has enabled me to leverage my background in computational fluid dynamics to pursue research that strengthens the scientific foundations of fire investigation, leading to more reliable tools and methods, “said Kozhumal.
This work is supported by grant number 15PNIJ-23-GG-04204-RESS from the National Institute of Justice.