Verification of a Lagrangian particle model for short-range firebrand transport. (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wadhwani, Rahul; Sutherland, Duncan; Ooi, Andrew; Moinuddin, Khalid; Thorpe, Graham
• Is Part Of: Fire safety journal. Volume 91(2017:Jul.)
• Page Start: 776
• Page End: 783
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: Short-range firebrands -- Lagrangian particles -- Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS); Fire prevention -- Periodicals; Incendies -- Prévention -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Fire prevention -- Research; Periodicals; 628.92205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.firesaf.2017.03.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-7112

Abstract

Abstract: Firebrands are a harbinger of damage to infrastructure; their effects cause a particularly important threat to people living within the wildland-urban-interface. Short-range firebrands travel with the wind with little or no lofting, and cause spotfires. In this work, the design of a novel firebrand generator prototype is discussed to achieve a uniform shower of firebrands. The transport of short-range firebrand is studied to verify the existing Lagrangian particle model of Fire Dynamics Simulator. Uniform, non-combusting cubiform and cylindrical firebrands are projected using the firebrand generator. The experimentally observed distribution of particles on the ground is compared with a simulated distribution using the fire dynamic simulator. The results show that the existing Lagrangian model gives a good agreement with the experimental data.