Forced convection fire spread along wooden dowel array

Giovanni Di Cristina; Shijin Kozhumal; Albert Simeoni; Nicholas Skowronski; Ali Rangwala; Seong-kyun Im

doi:10.1016/j.firesaf.2020.103090

Forced convection fire spread along wooden dowel array

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Giovanni Di Cristina, Shijin Kozhumal, Albert Simeoni, Nicholas Skowronski, Ali Rangwala, Seong-kyun Im

Year:

2021

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2020.103090

Source:

Fire Safety Journal

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Abstract

The effects of freestream flow on fire spread behaviors of a discrete wooden fuel array were studied. The spacing between fuel elements was varied, and the flame spread behavior under 1, 2, and 3 m/s forced flow velocities was investigated. The fastest spread rate was not observed for the smallest spacing. Furthermore, increasing spacing did not necessarily lead to a slower spread, as seen with the flame spread along the 0.75 cm spaced array which was as fast or faster than the 0.5 cm spacing condition. At a spacing of 1 cm, fragmented flames were observed at wind speeds of 3 m/s that coincided with a slower spread rate than the 2 m/s wind conditions. The anomalies were explained using flame visualization and pitot probe measurements to determine the effects of flow speed at different spacing conditions. It seems that a coupling between the combustion and fluid dynamics of flow around the dowel cylinders under certain conditions strongly affects the fire spread behaviors.

Keywords

Flame spread, Wood combustion, Discrete fuels, Fluid dynamics

Citation

Di Cristina, Giovanni; Kozhumal, Shijin; Simeoni, Albert; Skowronski, Nicholas; Rangwala, Ali; Im, Seong-kyun. 2021. Forced convection fire spread along wooden dowel array. Fire Safety Journal. 120: 103090. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2020.103090.