Physical Models of Fires and Their Associated Environment

A. M. Stein, John G. Sullivan, Francis W. Murray

Expert InsightsPublished 1973

Derives a general, flexible, mathematical model describing the progress of a fire, and presents graphical output of a computer simulation employing the model. Heating due to radiative transfer is handled in simplified form, as solution of the integro-differential equations involved is not practical at this time. The treatment of convection, emphasizing the dynamics rather than the chemistry, is based upon models of cumulus clouds by Murray and others. Cloud microphysics is treated parametrically rather than explicitly. The eddy diffusion coefficients for momentum, moisture, and temperature lead to values of those quantities of the same order of magnitude as observed values. The forcing function is based on observation of a typical forest fire. In its present form, the program can handle two geometries: cylindrical coordinates with axial symmetry, which can simulate an isolated fire under calm conditions, and Cartesian coordinates with symmetry about the X-Y plane. (Prepared for 1974 AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Fluid Dynamics Session.)

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Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web Only
  • Year: 1973
  • Pages: 24
  • Document Number: P-5049

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Chicago Manual of Style

Stein, A. M., John G. Sullivan, and Francis W. Murray, Physical Models of Fires and Their Associated Environment. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1973. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P5049.html.
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