Alternative equations to estimate the surface-to-volume ratio of different forest fuel particles
M. Hachmi A C , A. Sesbou A , H. Benjelloun A and F. Bouanane B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Ecole Nationale Forestière d’Ingénieurs, Tabriquet BP : 511, 11015, Salé, Morocco.
B Faculté des Sciences Rabat, Université Mohammed V, Agdal BP : 1014 RP, Rabat, Morocco.
C Corresponding author. Email: hachmimhamed@yahoo.fr
International Journal of Wildland Fire 20(5) 648-656 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF09042
Submitted: 28 April 2009 Accepted: 15 December 2010 Published: 8 August 2011
Abstract
Surface-to-volume ratio is an important fuel descriptor. Surface-to-volume ratio quantification methods currently used are specific and their accuracy varies with fuel types. In this work, we developed a geometric surface-to-volume ratio estimation method based on the perimeter-to-area ratio concept. Dimensions of leaves, twigs and needles of Moroccan tree and shrub species were measured. Our findings are: (i) the thickness of a leaf is variable along its width and length, and its average cross-section is located at its mid-length; (ii) a formula to calculate the ellipse perimeter was established using an elongation coefficient e, determined on the basis of the cross-section thickness and width; and (iii) one general surface-to-volume ratio formula was developed, from which five other equations were derived, according to the specific characteristics of each fuel type, for twigs, leaves, needles with semi-elliptical cross-section, needles with crescent cross-section shape, and needles with cross-section representing half or a sector of a circle respectively. Surface-to-volume ratio values obtained with the developed equations were compared with the currently published data.
Additional keywords: ellipse perimeter, Morocco, perimeter-to-surface ratio.
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