Numerical Analysis Support for Compartment Fire Modeling and Incorporation of Heat Conduction Into a Zone Fire Model. Final Report. August 15, 1988-March 31, 1991.
Numerical Analysis Support for Compartment Fire Modeling
and Incorporation of Heat Conduction Into a Zone Fire
Model. Final Report. August 15, 1988-March 31, 1991.
(983 K)
Moss, W. F.
NIST GCR 92-605; 50 p. March 1992.
Sponsor:
National Institute of Standards and Technology,
Gaithersburg, MD
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
Order number: PB94-156965
Keywords:
fire models; zone models; numerical analysis; conductive
heat transfer; computer modeling; fire modeling
Abstract:
This report summarizes numerical fire modeling research
conducted for NIST Grant Number 60NANB8D0857 from August
15, 1988 to March 31, 1991. The research goal for the
first year of the grant was to determine the best
available numerical technology for use in zone fire
modeling. The goal for the second year was to
incorporate heat conduction into a zone fire model in a
numerically robust and efficient manner. Three
prototype zone fire models named MCCFM, CONRAD1 and
CONRAD2 were constructed to test the numerical
technology used to realize these goals. These zone fire
models and their implementations as Fortran codes are
presented. The code MCCFM, developed during the first
year of the grant, demonstrates the advantages of using
mass as a solution variable instead of density. CONRAD1
and CONRAD2 examine two strategies for coupling the heat
conduction equation (a one dimensional partial
differential equation) with the zone fire modeling
ordinary differential equations. CONRAD1 performs this
coupling via the method of lines by using standard
piecewise cubic Hermite polynomial basis functions to
represent the unknown temperature profiles in the
ceiling, wall, and floor heat conduction nodes. CONRAD2
reduces the heat conduction problem to a set of
implicitly defined functional equations, a strategy
never before used in zone fire modeling. Both CONRAD1
and CONRAD2 use a differential-algebraic equation
solver. Supporting numerical results are presented with
timings for a Sun Sparcstation 2.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899