scholarly journals Ignition Vulnerabilities of Combustibles around Houses to Firebrand Showers: Further Comparison of Experiments

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2136
Author(s):  
Sayaka Suzuki ◽  
Samuel L. Manzello
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Thermal Radiation ◽  
Driving Force ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Significant Problem ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Similar Time ◽  
Comparison Of Experiments ◽  
Fire Front ◽  
Wui Fires

Wildland fires and wildland urban-interface (WUI) fires have become a significant problem in recent years. The mechanisms of home ignition in WUI fires are direct flame contact, thermal radiation, and firebrand attack. Out of these three fire spread factors, firebrands are considered to be a main driving force for rapid fire spread as firebrands can fly far from the fire front and ignite structures. The limited experimental data on firebrand showers limits the ability to design the next generation of communities to resist WUI fires to these types of exposures. The objective of this paper is to summarize, compare, and reconsider the results from previous experiments, to provide new data and insights to prevent home losses from firebrands in WUI fires. Comparison of different combustible materials around homes revealed that wood decking assemblies may be ignited within similar time to mulch under certain conditions.

Fine-Scale Fire Spread in Pine Straw

Fire ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
Daryn Sagel ◽  
Kevin Speer ◽  
Scott Pokswinski ◽  
Bryan Quaife
Keyword(s):  
Fire Spread ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Natural Setting ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Prescribed Burn ◽  
Fire Dynamics ◽  
Rate Of Spread ◽  
Scale Models ◽  
Fire Front ◽  
Visible Images

Most wildland and prescribed fire spread occurs through ground fuels, and the rate of spread (RoS) in such environments is often summarized with empirical models that assume uniform environmental conditions and produce a unique RoS. On the other hand, representing the effects of local, small-scale variations of fuel and wind experienced in the field is challenging and, for landscape-scale models, impractical. Moreover, the level of uncertainty associated with characterizing RoS and flame dynamics in the presence of turbulent flow demonstrates the need for further understanding of fire dynamics at small scales in realistic settings. This work describes adapted computer vision techniques used to form fine-scale measurements of the spatially and temporally varying RoS in a natural setting. These algorithms are applied to infrared and visible images of a small-scale prescribed burn of a quasi-homogeneous pine needle bed under stationary wind conditions. A large number of distinct fire front displacements are then used statistically to analyze the fire spread. We find that the fine-scale forward RoS is characterized by an exponential distribution, suggesting a model for fire spread as a random process at this scale.

scholarly journals The Formation of Deposits on the Walls of the Pores in the Filtering Process

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-22
Author(s):  
Yu. A. Taran ◽  
A. V. Kozlov ◽  
A. L. Taran
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Driving Force ◽  
Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Original Structure ◽  
Small Particles ◽  
Filtration Process ◽  
Filter Unit

The aim of the work is to consider the mechanism of clogging the pores of the filter unit by small particles from the flow of filtrate inside them. Theoretical ideas about the process of filtering with the deposition of small particles from the filtrate on the pore walls and attribution of its fundamentals to restructuring from the original structure to the final structure allow to describe the process of clogging the pores using well studied concepts of known processes with phase transformations (in particular, crystallization). Based on this analogy and the approach to the description of the transformation of the "old" structure into a "new" one in time, using experimental data and their processing we calculated the rate of nucleation of the sediment centers (ωnucl), the linear (υlin) and volumetric rates of sediment plaques growth in the pores of the filter unit at different values of the process driving force, at different pressure difference in the system, and at different concentrations of solid particles in the suspension. Interpolation and extrapolation dependences were obtained for analyzing the mechanisms of sediments formation and growth for determining and calculating these (ωnucl, υlin) rates. Using the concepts of nonequilibrium thermodynamics to assess the influence of the driving forces we studied their influence (changes in the concentration of solid particles in the filtrate suspension and pressure drop across the filtering layer) on the dynamics of the filtration process. Using the data obtained it is possible to find the degree of clogging of through pores, which determines the filtration conditions, the filter septum type, and the filter overall dimensions.

scholarly journals IDENTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION OF MATERIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE CREEP MODEL UNDER THERMAL RADIATION EFFECTS FOR AUSTENITIC STEEL 1X18H10T

2020 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-99
Author(s):  
V.A. Gorokhov
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Numerical Modeling ◽  
Creep Rate ◽  
Thermal Radiation ◽  
Neutron Irradiation ◽  
Radiation Effects ◽  
Thermal Creep ◽  
Creep Model ◽  
Material Functions ◽  
Good Agreement

In the present paper, on the basis of the information available in the scientific literature on the thermal creep rate of 1X18H10T austenitic steel under neutron irradiation conditions, the material functions of the thermal creep model implemented and verified in the framework of the certified software for numerical modeling of structural deformation under thermal and thermal radiation effects of UPAKS software are obtained and verified. The list of identifiable material functions of the thermal creep model includes: a function that characterizes the initial creep strain rate, referred to a unit stress level at a given temperature level and stress parameter; the radius of the creep surface, which is a function of temperature; the hardening function, characterizing the change in the initial creep rate from the hardening parameter at a given temperature; a function that takes into account the effect of a fast neutron flux on the creep rate at a given temperature. Using an analytical approximation of experimental data describing the rate of thermal creep of steels under neutron irradiation depending on the stresses, temperature, and flux of fast neutrons, we obtained relations for determining the values of all the functions of the thermal creep model. The value of the radius of the creep surface for a fixed temperature was determined from the condition that the creep deformation for a selected period of time and the neutron flux accumulated during this time will not exceed 0.2%. Using the UPAKS software, the creep model and the obtained material functions implemented in them, numerical simulation of the deformation of 1X18H10T steel under conditions of prolonged thermal load and neutron irradiation was performed. The results of numerical modeling are in good agreement with the analytical dependences that describe the creep of a given material under uniaxial SSS. A numerical creep simulation was also carried out under the assumption of the absence of neutron irradiation. As in the case of neutron irradiation, good agreement is obtained between the calculated and experimental data.

Ignition of mulch and grasses by firebrands in wildland - urban interface fires

2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel L. Manzello ◽  
Thomas G. Cleary ◽  
John R. Shields ◽  
Jiann C. Yang
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Test Cell ◽  
Wildland Urban Interface ◽  
Size Number ◽  
Ignition Regime ◽  
Pine Straw ◽  
Ignition Propensity ◽  
Wui Fires

Firebrands or embers are produced as trees and structures burn in wildland–urban interface (WUI) fires. It is believed that firebrand showers created in WUI fires may ignite vegetation and mulch located near homes and structures. This, in turn, may lead to ignition of homes and structures due to burning vegetation and mulch. Understanding the ignition events that are due to firebrands is important to mitigate fire spread in communities. To assess the ignition propensity of such materials, simulated firebrands of uniform geometry, but in two different sizes, were allowed to impinge on fuel beds of shredded hardwood mulch, pine straw mulch, and cut grass. The moisture content of these materials was varied. Firebrands were suspended and ignited within the test cell of the Fire Emulator/Detector Evaluator (FE/DE) apparatus. The FE/DE was used to investigate the influence of an air flow on the ignition propensity of a fuel bed. Ignition regime maps were generated for each material tested as a function of impacting firebrand size, number of deposited firebrands, air flow, and material moisture content.

Assessment of CFD Approaches for Next-Generation Combustor Design

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kumud Ajmani ◽  
Hukam C. Mongia ◽  
Phil Lee
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Direct Injection ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Reacting Flow ◽  
Cfd Analysis ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Lean Direct Injection ◽  
Liquid Spray ◽  
Exit Temperature ◽  
Computational Predictions

An effort was undertaken to perform CFD analysis of fluid flow in Lean-Direct Injection (LDI) combustors with axial swirl-venturi elements for next-generation LDI-2 design. The National Combustion Code (NCC) developed at NASA Glenn Research Center was used to perform reacting flow computations on an LDI-2 combustor configuration with thirteen injector elements arranged in four fuel stages. Reacting computations were performed with a consistent approach for mesh-optimization, liquid spray modeling and kinetics modeling. Computational predictions of Emissions Index (EINOx) and combustor exit temperature were compared with two sets of experimental data at medium and high-power operating conditions, for two different pressure-drop conditions in the combustor. The NCC simulations predicted the combustor exit temperature to within 1–2% of experimental data. The accuracy of the EINOx predictions from the NCC simulations was within 10% to 30% of experimental data.

Laboratory fire spread analysis using visual and infrared images

2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ramiro Martínez-de Dios ◽  
Jorge C. André ◽  
João C. Gonçalves ◽  
Begoña Ch. Arrue ◽  
Aníbal Ollero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Graphical Model ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Rate Of Spread ◽  
Virtual View ◽  
Fire Front ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Front Shape ◽  
Processing Techniques ◽  
Spread Analysis ◽  
Base Width

This paper presents an experimental method using computer-based image processing techniques of visual and infrared movies of a propagating fire front, taken from one or more cameras, to supply the time evolutions of the fire front shape and position, flame inclination angle, height, and base width. As secondary outputs, it also provides the fire front rate of spread and a 3D graphical model of the fire front that can be rendered from any virtual view. The method is automatic and non-intrusive, has space–time resolution close to continuum and can be run in real-time or deferred modes. It is demonstrated in simple laboratory experiments in beds of pine needles set upon an inclinable burn table, with point and linear ignitions, but can be extended to open field situations.

The FireFlux II experiment: a model-guided field experiment to improve understanding of fire–atmosphere interactions and fire spread

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig B. Clements ◽  
Adam K. Kochanski ◽  
Daisuke Seto ◽  
Braniff Davis ◽  
Christopher Camacho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fire Spread ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Large Set ◽  
Tall Grass ◽  
Combustion Gases ◽  
Tall Grass Prairie ◽  
Fire Front ◽  
Air Chemistry ◽  
Atmosphere Model ◽  
Behaviour Data

The FireFlux II experiment was conducted in a tall grass prairie located in south-east Texas on 30 January 2013 under a regional burn ban and high fire danger conditions. The goal of the experiment was to better understand micrometeorological aspects of fire spread. The experimental design was guided by the use of a coupled fire–atmosphere model that predicted the fire spread in advance. Preliminary results show that after ignition, a surface pressure perturbation formed and strengthened as the fire front and plume developed, causing an increase in wind velocity at the fire front. The fire-induced winds advected hot combustion gases forward and downwind of the fire front that resulted in acceleration of air through the flame front. Overall, the experiment collected a large set of micrometeorological, air chemistry and fire behaviour data that may provide a comprehensive dataset for evaluating and testing coupled fire–atmosphere model systems.

The contribution of turbulent plume dynamics to long-range spotting

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 317 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Thurston ◽  
Jeffrey D. Kepert ◽  
Kevin J. Tory ◽  
Robert J. B. Fawcett
Keyword(s):  
Transport Model ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Landing Position ◽  
Plume Dynamics ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
Fire Front ◽  
Turbulent Plume ◽  
Physical Realism

Spotting can start fires up to tens of kilometres ahead of the primary fire front, causing rapid spread and placing immense pressure on suppression resources. Here, we investigate the dynamics of the buoyant plume generated by the fire and its ability to transport firebrands. We couple large-eddy simulations of bushfire plumes with a firebrand transport model to assess the effects of turbulent plume dynamics on firebrand trajectories. We show that plume dynamics have a marked effect on the maximum spotting distance and determine the amount of lateral and longitudinal spread in firebrand landing position. In-plume turbulence causes much of this spread and can increase the maximum spotting distance by a factor of more than 2 over that in a plume without turbulence in our experiments. The substantial impact of plume dynamics on the spotting process implies that fire spread models should include parametrisations of turbulent plume dynamics to improve their accuracy and physical realism.

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