Physical modeling tools for fire and explosion safety
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63434/30286999.40Keywords:
fire protection, safety engineering, simulation modelsAbstract
Fire and explosion safety personnel are exposed to physical modelling tools in performance design, incident investigation and education. It is, therefore, essential to know which tools are available and in which cases they can be used.
Objective: to describe the different features of physical modelling tools that are available to personnel involved in fire and explosion safety, and to simulate the scenarios.
Materials and methods: To perform simulations to evaluate some of these tools to determine the characteristics. These are illustrated by examples for different scenarios: 1) Compartment fires: Consolidated Model of Fire and Smoke Transport, Fire Dynamic Simulator, FireFoam. 2) Ventilation after a fire in underground spaces: VentFIRE and MFIRE. 3) Vegetation cover: Fire Dynamic Simulator and FlamMap. 4) Fire by ponding: Fire Dynamic Simulator. 5) Explosions: Ansys Fluent, Flame Acceleration Simulator, Cantera, Shock and Detonation Toolbox and XiFoam.
Results: In the case of fires, it was identified that the Fire Dynamic Simulator is the most versatile physical modeling tool since it can be used in compartment fires, in the urban/vegetation cover interface and by ponding. For the analysis of the instant before an explosion, computational fluid dynamics simulations are recommended. For the study of the effect of the explosion, it is suggested to use Flame Acceleration Simulator or XiFoam.
Conclusions: The need to train professionals in the management of these physical modeling tools in such a way that their responsible use in fire and explosion safety is guaranteed was identified, and the importance of conducting research that increases the capabilities of these tools through the application of artificial intelligence was recognized.
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