Firebrand transport from a novel firebrand generator: numerical simulation of laboratory experiments
R. Wadhwani A B , D. Sutherland B C , A. Ooi B D and K. Moinuddin A B *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Centre for Environmental Safety and Risk Engineering, Victoria University, Melbourne, Vic. 3030, Australia.
B Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), Melbourne, Vic. 3002, Australia.
C School of Science, University of New South Wales, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia.
D Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Vic. 3052, Australia.
* Correspondence to: khalid.moinuddin@vu.edu.au
International Journal of Wildland Fire 31(6) 634-648 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF21088
Submitted: 18 June 2021 Accepted: 13 April 2022 Published: 13 May 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of IAWF.
Abstract
Firebrands (often called embers) increase the propagation rate of wildfires and often cause the ignition and destruction of houses. Predicting the motion of firebrands and the ignition of new fires is therefore of significant interest to fire authorities. Numerical models have the potential to accurately predict firebrand transport. The present study focuses on conducting a set of benchmark experiments using a novel firebrand generator, a device that produces controlled and repeatable sets of firebrands, and validating a numerical model for firebrand transport against this set of experiments. The validation is conducted for the transport of non-burning and burning cubiform firebrand particles at two flow speeds. Four generic drag sub-models used to estimate drag coefficients that are suited for a wide variety of firebrand shapes are verified for their applicability to firebrand transport modelling. The four sub-models are found to be good in various degrees at predicting the transport of firebrand particles.
Keywords: contour, contour peak location, drag models, embers, Fire Dynamics Simulator, firebrand generator, Lagrangian particles, lateral spread, short-range firebrands.
References
Albini, FA (1979) Spot fire distance from burning trees- a predictive model. General Technical Report INT-GTR-56. Ogden, UT: USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 73 p.Bagheri G, Bonadonna C (2016) On the drag of freely falling non-spherical particles. Powder Technology 301, 526–544.
| On the drag of freely falling non-spherical particles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carranza F, Zhang Y (2017) Study of drag and orientation of regular particles using stereo vision, Schlieren photography and digital image processing Powder Technology 311, 185–199.
| Study of drag and orientation of regular particles using stereo vision, Schlieren photography and digital image processingCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cruz, MG, Gould, JS, Alexander, ME, Sullivan, AL, McCaw, WL, Mathews, S (2015) ‘Guide to rate of fire spread models for Australian vegetation.’ (CSIRO Land and Water Flagship: Canberra, ACT and AFAC: Melbourne, Vic.)
El Houssami M, Mueller E, Filkov A, Thomas JC, Skowronski N, Gallagher MR, Clark K, Kremens R, Simeoni A (2016) Experimental procedures characterising firebrand generation in wildland fires. Fire Technology 52, 731–751.
| Experimental procedures characterising firebrand generation in wildland fires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Filkov A, Prohanov S, Mueller E, Kasymov D, Martynov P, El Houssami M, Thomas J, Skowronski N, Butler B, Gallagher M (2017) Investigation of firebrand production during prescribed fires conducted in a pine forest. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 36, 3263–3270.
| Investigation of firebrand production during prescribed fires conducted in a pine forest.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ganser GH (1993) A rational approach to drag prediction of spherical and nonspherical particles. Powder Technology 77, 143–152.
| A rational approach to drag prediction of spherical and nonspherical particles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gould JS, McCaw W, Cheney N, Ellis P, Knight I, Sullivan A (2008) ‘Project Vesta: fire in dry eucalypt forest: fuel structure, fuel dynamics and fire behaviour.’ (CSIRO Publishing)
Haider A, Levenspiel O (1989) Drag coefficient and terminal velocity of spherical and non-spherical particles. Powder Technology 58, 63–70.
| Drag coefficient and terminal velocity of spherical and non-spherical particles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hölzer A, Sommerfeld M (2008) New simple correlation formula for the drag coefficient of non-spherical particles. Powder Technology 184, 361–365.
| New simple correlation formula for the drag coefficient of non-spherical particles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kortas S, Mindykowski P, Consalvi JL, Mhiri H, Porterie B (2009) Experimental validation of a numerical model for the transport of firebrands. Fire Safety Journal 44, 1095–1102.
| Experimental validation of a numerical model for the transport of firebrands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Laín S, García JA (2006) Study of four-way coupling on turbulent particle-laden jet flows Chemical Engineering Science 61, 6775–6785.
| Study of four-way coupling on turbulent particle-laden jet flowsCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Linteris, GT, Gewuerz, L, McGrattan, KB, Forney, GP (2004) Modeling solid sample burning with FDS. NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD.
| Crossref |.
Manzello SL, Suzuki S (2013) Experimentally simulating wind driven firebrand showers in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fires: overview of the NIST firebrand generator (NIST Dragon) technology. Procedia Engineering 62, 91–102.
| Experimentally simulating wind driven firebrand showers in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fires: overview of the NIST firebrand generator (NIST Dragon) technology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Manzello SL, Suzuki S (2014) Exposing decking assemblies to continuous wind-driven firebrand showers. Fire Safety Science 11, 1339–1352.
| Exposing decking assemblies to continuous wind-driven firebrand showers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Manzello SL, Cleary TG, Shields JR, Yang JC (2006) Ignition of mulch and grasses by firebrands in wildland–urban interface fires. International Journal of Wildland Fire 15, 427–431.
| Ignition of mulch and grasses by firebrands in wildland–urban interface fires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Manzello SL, Shields JR, Cleary TG, Maranghides A, Mell WE, Yang JC, Hayashi Y, Nii D, Kurita T (2008) On the development and characterization of a firebrand generator. Fire Safety Journal 43, 258–268.
| On the development and characterization of a firebrand generator.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McArthur AG (1967) ‘Fire behaviour in eucalypt forests.’ (Commonwealth of Australia, Department of National Development: Canberra, ACT, Australia)
McGrattan K, McDermott R, Weinschenk C, Overholt K, Hostikka S, Floyd J (2015a) ‘Fire dynamics simulator user’s guide’, 6th edn. (National Institute of Standards and Technology: Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA)
McGrattan K, McDermott R, Weinschenk C, Overholt K, Hostikka S, Floyd J (2015b) ‘Fire Dynamics Simulator Technical Reference Guide Volume 1: Mathematical Model.’ (National Institute of Standards and Technology: Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA)
Moinuddin K, Razzaque QS, Thomas A (2020) Numerical simulation of coupled pyrolysis and combustion reactions with directly measured fire properties. Polymers 12, 2075
| Numerical simulation of coupled pyrolysis and combustion reactions with directly measured fire properties.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Perez-Ramirez Y, Mell WE, Santoni P-A, Tramoni J-B, Bosseur F (2017) Examination of WFDS in modeling spreading fires in a furniture calorimeter. Fire Technology 53, 1795–1832.
| Examination of WFDS in modeling spreading fires in a furniture calorimeter.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Quill R, Sharples JJ, Sidhu LA (2020) A statistical approach to understanding canopy winds over complex terrain Environmental Modeling & Assessment 25, 231–250.
| A statistical approach to understanding canopy winds over complex terrainCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sardoy N, Consalvi JL, Kaiss A, Fernandez-Pello AC, Porterie B (2008) Numerical study of ground-level distribution of firebrands generated by line fires. Combustion and Flame 154, 478–488.
| Numerical study of ground-level distribution of firebrands generated by line fires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Storey MA, Price OF, Bradstock RA, Sharples JJ (2020) Analysis of variation in distance, number, and distribution of spotting in southeast Australian wildfires. Fire 3, 10
| Analysis of variation in distance, number, and distribution of spotting in southeast Australian wildfires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Suzuki S, Johnsson E, Maranghides A, Manzello SL (2016) Ignition of wood fencing assemblies exposed to continuous wind-driven firebrand showers. Fire Technology 52, 1051–1067.
| Ignition of wood fencing assemblies exposed to continuous wind-driven firebrand showers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tarifa CS (1967) Transport and combustion of firebrands. Final report of Grants FG-SP-114 and FG-SP-146, Vol. 2. Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial, Esteban Terradas. (Madrid, Spain).
Tarifa CS, del Notario PP, Moreno FG (1965) On the flight paths and lifetimes of burning particles of wood. In 'Proceeding of Combustion Institute'. Vol. 10, pp. 1021–1037.
Thomas JC, Mueller EV, Santamaria S, Gallagher M, El Houssami M, Filkov A, Clark K, Skowronski N, Hadden RM, Mell W, Simeoni A (2017) Investigation of firebrand generation from an experimental fire: development of a reliable data collection methodology. Fire Safety Journal 91, 864–871.
| Investigation of firebrand generation from an experimental fire: development of a reliable data collection methodology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomas CM, Sharples JJ, Evans JP (2020) The terminal-velocity assumption in simulations of long-range ember transport. Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 175, 96–107.
| The terminal-velocity assumption in simulations of long-range ember transport.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thurston W, Kepert JD, Tory KJ, Fawcett RJB (2017) The contribution of turbulent plume dynamics to long-range spotting International Journal of Wildland Fire 26, 317
| The contribution of turbulent plume dynamics to long-range spottingCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tohidi A, Kaye NB (2017) Comprehensive wind tunnel experiments of lofting and downwind transport of non-combusting rod-like model firebrands during firebrand shower scenarios Fire Safety Journal 90, 95–111.
| Comprehensive wind tunnel experiments of lofting and downwind transport of non-combusting rod-like model firebrands during firebrand shower scenariosCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tse SD, Fernandez-Pello AC (1998) On the flight paths of metal particles and embers generated by power lines in high winds – a potential source of wildland fires. Fire Safety Journal 30, 333–356.
| On the flight paths of metal particles and embers generated by power lines in high winds – a potential source of wildland fires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van Wachem B, Zastawny M, Zhao F, Mallouppas G (2015) Modelling of gas–solid turbulent channel flow with non-spherical particles with large Stokes numbers International Journal of Multiphase Flow 68, 80–92.
| Modelling of gas–solid turbulent channel flow with non-spherical particles with large Stokes numbersCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wadell H (1933) Sphericity and Roundness of Rock Particles The Journal of Geology 41, 310–331.
| Sphericity and Roundness of Rock ParticlesCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wadhwani R (2019) Physics-based simulation of short-range spotting in wildfires. PhD thesis. Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
Wadhwani R, Sutherland D, Moinuddin K (2017a) Suitable pyrolysis model for physics-based bushfire simulation. In ‘11th Asia-Pacific Conference on Combustion'. University of Sydney, Sydney’, 10–14 December 2017. (eds Masri AR, Cleary M, Dunn M, Kourmatzis A, Hawkes ER, Kook S and Chan QN) pp. 582–585. ISBN: 978-1-5108-5646-2.
Wadhwani R, Sutherland D, Ooi A, Moinuddin K, Thorpe G (2017b) Verification of a Lagrangian particle model for short-range firebrand transport. Fire Safety Journal 91, 776–783.
| Verification of a Lagrangian particle model for short-range firebrand transport.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wadhwani R, Sutherland D, Moinuddin K (2019) Simulated transport of short-range embers in an idealised bushfire, In 'Proceeding for the 6th International Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference'. Sydney, Australia, April 29–May 3, 2019.
Wadhwani R, Sutherland D, Thorpe G, Moinuddin K (2021) Improvement of drag model for non-burning firebrand transport in Fire Dynamics Simulator. In ‘MODSIM2021, 24th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation’, December 2021. (Eds Vervoort RW, Voinov, AA, Evans, JP and Marshall, L) pp. 85–91. (Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand) ISBN: 978-0-9872143-8-6.
