Laboratory Scaling of the Fluid Mechanical Aspects of Large Fires

Abstract

The feasibility of laboratory application of a modeling technique for the evaluation of the gross flow features of large-area fires is demonstrated with models 2 and 4 ft square. Substantial agreement is found between the low-elevation flow in a 30-acre fire and velocities recorded about the model fires. Similarity between the scaled flow environments in the different-size model fires at elevations as high as one model diameter, the highest elevation considered, suggests similar flow behavior at homologous locations in a large-area fire. Model fires having their energy release confined to the model surface are also suitable for scaling the convective thermal environment in large fires.