Heat transfer into shelter buried by pyroclastic flow and insulation methods

Abstract

Temperature conditions were evaluated inside the Kaliadem village shelter, which was buried by the main body of pyroclastic flow from the Mount Merapi eruption on June 14, 2006. Numerical analysis of one-dimensional steady state, two-dimensional steady-state, and non-steady-state heat transfer into the shelter was performed to determine the effectiveness of insulation materials lining shelter doors, the changes in doors' thermal conductivity, and the effects of door thickness on temperature reduction. Results show that average temperatures inside the shelter greatly exceed human body temperature in every scenario except when doors are lined with cellulose insulation. When the shelter is buried by a pyroclastic flow with a maximum temperature of 800℃, the average temperature inside the shelter can be reduced below human body temperature if double doors are lined with at least 85 cm of cellulose, or triple doors are lined with at least 55 cm of cellulose.