Concurrent Turbulent Flame Spread.
Concurrent Turbulent Flame Spread.
(480 K)
Zhou, L.; Fernandez-Pello, A. C.
NISTIR 4449;
U.S./Japan Government Cooperative Program on Natural
Resources (UJNR). Fire Research and Safety. 11th Joint
Panel Meeting. October 19-24, 1989, Berkeley, CA,
Jason, N. H.; Cramer, D. M., Editor(s)(s), 122-129 pp,
1990.
Sponsor:
National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
National Science Foundation, Washington, DC
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
Keywords:
flame spread rate; turbulence; polymethyl methacrylate;
flame length; fire models; flow velocity
Abstract:
The rate of flame spread over the surface of thick PMMA
sheets has been measured as a function of the velocity
and turbulence intensity of a forced air flow concurrent
with the direction of flame propagation. It is shown
that the flow turbulence has a strong influence on the
flame spread process. For all turbulence intensities,
the flame spread rate increases approximately linearly
with the flow velocity, although the slope is smaller
for larger turbulence intensities. For a given flow
velocity, the spread rate decreases as the turbulence
intensity is increased, the effect being more pronounced
for larger flow velocities. These effects appear to be
due to a strong influence of the turbulence intensity on
the flame length, which decreases as the turbulence
intensity is increased, thus reducing the net heat flux
from the flame to the unburnt combustible. The results
are significant since the prediciton of the flame length
and spread rate as a function of the problem parameters
are important factors in the development of room fire
models.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899