Investigation of a Model for Upward Flame Spread: Transient Ignitor and Burning Rate Effects.
Investigation of a Model for Upward Flame Spread:
Transient Ignitor and Burning Rate Effects.
(4032 K)
Lee, C. H.
NIST GCR 97-726; 129 p. August 1997.
Sponsor:
National Institute of Standards and Technology,
Gaithersburg, MD
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
Order number: PB97-206031
Keywords:
flame spread; burning rate; fire growth; heat release
rate; model studies
Abstract:
Several studies have developed upward flame spread
models which use somewhat different features. However,
the models have not considered the transient effects of
the ignitor and the burning rate. Thus, the objective
of this study is to examine a generalized upward flame
spread model which includes these effects. We shall
compare the results with results from simpler models
used in the past in order to examine the importance of
the simplifying assumptions. We compare these results
using PMMA, and we also include experimental results for
comparison. The results of the comparison indicate that
flame velocity depends on the thermal properties of a
material, the specific model for flame length and
transient burning rate, as well as other variables
including the heat flux by ignitor and flame itself.
The results from the generalized upward flame spread
model can provide a prediction of flame velocity, flame
and pyrolysis height, burnout time and position, and
rate of energy output as a function of time.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899