Experimental modelling of crown fire initiation in open and closed shrubland systems

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Watcharapong Tachajapong ◽  
Jesse Lozano ◽  
Shankar Mahalingam ◽  
David R. Weise

The transition of surface fire to live shrub crown fuels was studied through a simplified laboratory experiment using an open-topped wind tunnel. Respective surface and crown fuels used were excelsior (shredded Populus tremuloides wood) and live chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum, including branches and foliage). A high crown fuel bulk density of 6.8kgm–3 with a low crown fuel base height of 0.20m was selected to ensure successful crown fire initiation. Diagnostics included flame height and surface fire evolution. Experimental results were compared with similar experiments performed in an open environment, in which the side walls of the wind tunnel were removed. The effect of varying wind speed in the range 0–1.8ms–1, representing a Froude number range of 0–1.1, on crown fire initiation was investigated. The suppression of lateral entrainment due to wind tunnel walls influenced surface fire behaviour. When wind speed increased from 1.5 to 1.8ms–1, the rate of spread of surface fire and surface fire depth increased from 5.5 to 12.0cms–1 and 0.61 to 1.02m. As a result, the residence time of convective heating significantly increased from 16.0 to 24.0s and the hot gas temperature at the crown base increased from 994 to 1141K. The change in surface fire characteristics significantly affected the convective energy transfer process. Thus, the net energy transfer to the crown fuel increased so the propensity for crown fire initiation increased. In contrast, increasing wind speed decreased the tendency for crown fuel initiation in an open environment because of the cooling effect from fresh air entrainment via the lateral sides of surface fire.

2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin E. Alexander ◽  
Miguel G. Cruz

This state-of-knowledge review examines some of the underlying assumptions and limitations associated with the inter-relationships among four widely used descriptors of surface fire behaviour and post-fire impacts in wildland fire science and management, namely Byram’s fireline intensity, flame length, stem-bark char height and crown scorch height. More specifically, the following topical areas are critically examined based on a comprehensive review of the pertinent literature: (i) estimating fireline intensity from flame length; (ii) substituting flame length for fireline intensity in Van Wagner’s crown fire initiation model; (iii) the validity of linkages between the Rothermel surface fire behaviour and Van Wagner’s crown scorch height models; (iv) estimating flame height from post-fire observations of stem-bark char height; and (v) estimating fireline intensity from post-fire observations of crown scorch height. There has been an overwhelming tendency within the wildland fire community to regard Byram’s flame length–fireline intensity and Van Wagner’s crown scorch height–fireline intensity models as universal in nature. However, research has subsequently shown that such linkages among fire behaviour and post-fire impact characteristics are in fact strongly influenced by fuelbed structure, thereby necessitating consideration of fuel complex specific-type models of such relationships.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin E. Alexander ◽  
Miguel G. Cruz

This state-of-knowledge review examines some of the underlying assumptions and limitations associated with the inter-relationships among four widely used descriptors of surface fire behaviour and post-fire impacts in wildland fire science and management, namely Byram's fireline intensity, flame length, stem-bark char height and crown scorch height. More specifically, the following topical areas are critically examined based on a comprehensive review of the pertinent literature: (i) estimating fireline intensity from flame length; (ii) substituting flame length for fireline intensity in Van Wagner's crown fire initiation model; (iii) the validity of linkages between the Rothermel surface fire behaviour and Van Wagner's crown scorch height models; (iv) estimating flame height from post-fire observations of stem-bark char height; and (v) estimating fireline intensity from post-fire observations of crown scorch height. There has been an overwhelming tendency within the wildland fire community to regard Byram's flame length–fireline intensity and Van Wagner's crown scorch height–fireline intensity models as universal in nature. However, research has subsequently shown that such linkages among fire behaviour and post-fire impact characteristics are in fact strongly influenced by fuelbed structure, thereby necessitating consideration of fuel complex specific-type models of such relationships.


Author(s):  
Junji Maeda ◽  
Takashi Takeuchi ◽  
Eriko Tomokiyo ◽  
Yukio Tamura

To quantitatively investigate a gusty wind from the viewpoint of aerodynamic forces, a wind tunnel that can control the rise time of a step-function-like gust was devised and utilized. When the non-dimensional rise time, which is calculated using the rise time of the gusty wind, the wind speed, and the size of an object, is less than a certain value, the wind force is greater than under the corresponding steady wind. Therefore, this wind force is called the “overshoot wind force” for objects the size of orbital vehicles in an actual wind observation. The finding of the overshoot wind force requires a condition of the wind speed recording specification and depends on the object size and the gusty wind speed.


1971 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 833-845 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. PENNYCUICK

1. A bat was trained to fly in a tilting wind tunnel. Stereoscopic photographs were taken, both by reflected and by transmitted light, and measurements of best gliding angle were made. 2. Variation of wing span and area at different speeds was much less than in birds. This is attributed to the construction of the wing, which prevents the bat from folding back the manus in flight, because this would lead to collapse of the plagiopatagium. 3. The trailing edge of the wing is normally deflected upwards in flight, at least in the distal parts. This is interpreted as providing longitudinal stability. The plagiopatagialis proprii muscles appear to act as an elevator, by deflecting the trailing edge of the plagiopatagium upwards. 4. The speed range over which the bat could glide was 5·3-11·0 m/s. Its maximum lift coefficient was 1·5, and its best glide ratio 6·8:1. The Reynolds number range, based on mean chord, was 3·26 x 104 to 6·79 x 104. 5. A simple regression analysis of the glide polar indicated a very high span efficiency factor (k) and low wing profile drag coefficient (Cdp). On the other hand, a drag analysis on the assumption that k = 1 leads to an improbably large increase in the estimated Cdp at low speeds. It is suggested that the correct interpretation probably lies between these extremes, with k ≊ 1·5; Cdp would then be about 0·02 at high speeds, rising to somewhat over 0·1 at the minimum speed. 6. It would appear that the bat is not so good as a pigeon at fast gliding, but better at low-speed manoeuvring. On most points of performance, however, the two are remarkably similar.


Author(s):  
Kazutoshi Matsuda ◽  
Kusuo Kato ◽  
Kouki Arise ◽  
Hajime Ishii

According to the results of conventional wind tunnel tests on rectangular cross sections with side ratios of B/D = 2–8 (B: along-wind length (m), D: cross-wind length (m)), motion-induced vortex excitation was confirmed. The generation of motion-induced vortex excitation is considered to be caused by the unification of separated vortices from the leading edge and secondary vortices at the trailing edge [1]. Spring-supported test for B/D = 1.18 was conducted in a closed circuit wind tunnel (cross section: 1.8 m high×0.9 m wide) at Kyushu Institute of Technology. Vibrations were confirmed in the neighborhoods of reduced wind speeds Vr = V/fD = 2 and Vr = 8 (V: wind speed (m/s), f: natural frequency (Hz)). Because the reduced wind speed in motion-induced vortex excitation is calculated as Vr = 1.67×B/D = 1.67×1.18 = 2.0 [1], vibrations around Vr = 2 were considered to be motion-induced vortex excitation. According to the smoke flow visualization result for B/D = 1.18 which was carried out by the authors, no secondary vortices at the trailing edge were formed, although separated vortices from the leading edge were formed at the time of oscillation at the onset wind speed of motion-induced vortex excitation, where aerodynamic vibrations considered to be motion-induced vortex excitation were confirmed. It was suggested that motion-induced vortex excitation might possibly occur in the range of low wind speeds, even in the case of side ratios where secondary vortices at trailing edge were not confirmed. In this study, smoke flow visualizations were performed for ratios of B/D = 0.5–2.0 in order to find out the relation between side ratios of rectangular cross sections and secondary vortices at trailing edge in motion-induced vortex excitation. The smoke flow visualizations around the model during oscillating condition were conducted in a small-sized wind tunnel at Kyushu Institute of Technology. Experimental Reynolds number was Re = VD/v = 1.6×103. For the forced-oscillating amplitude η, the non-dimensional double amplitudes were set as 2η/D = 0.02–0.15. Spring-supported tests were also carried out in order to obtain the response characteristics of the models.


2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 179-187
Author(s):  
Anh Tien Tran ◽  
Nam Ngoc Linh Hoang

This paper presents the design and installation of measuring vibration system in wind tunnel area 1m x 1m. The theoretical analysis of the spring structure in this model help we possible to design a system for wind tunnel by yourself with suitable area, wind speed as well as survey wing model to obtain results desire. This system helps us to observe the oscillation of wing survey by eyes, but to know exactly how wing fluctuates, also the pitching angle of wing, we use ultrasonic sensors to measure the distance variation, will be presented in more detail in the text. At the same time, the article also shows how to make a simple and durable wing model with NACA 0015 airfoil - wing model will be surveyed ranged in system above. The aerodynamic phenomena affect to the vibration of the wing are also mentioned and overcome in the design of the wing. Finally we process the data after measured to see the similarities between the experiment and the theoretical dynamics of aviation.


2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agus Aribowo

This paper presents the results of investigation the separation buble which growing and burst on aerofoil NACA 0017 with effect mechanism of stall in the subsonic wind tunnel. Experiment have done on wind speed 20 m per s and 30 m per s. The data pecked from the orifice of pressure with interval 2 degree until stall position. The result was separation buble which growing on the airfoil, going to ahead of airfoil together with increasing the Reynolds number. After touching, the flow appeared to separate from the upper airfoil without reattachment.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
pp. 6167
Author(s):  
Fang Feng ◽  
Guoqiang Tong ◽  
Yunfei Ma ◽  
Yan Li

In order to get rid of the impact of the global financial crisis and actively respond to global climate change, it has become a common choice for global economic development to develop clean energy such as wind energy, improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With the advantages of simple structure, unnecessary facing the wind direction, and unique appearance, the vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) attracts extensive attention in the field of small and medium wind turbines. The lift-type VAWT exhibits outstanding aerodynamic characteristics at a high tip speed ratio, while the starting characteristics are generally undesirable at a low wind speed; thus, how to improve the starting characteristics of the lift-type VAWT has always been an important issue. In this paper, a lift-drag combined starter (LDCS) suitable for lift-type VAWT was proposed to optimize the starting characteristics of lift-type VAWT. With semi-elliptical drag blades and lift blades equipped on the middle and rear part outside the starter, the structure is characterized by lift-drag combination, weakening the adverse effect of the starter with semi-elliptical drag blades alone on the output performance of the original lift-type VAWT and improving the characteristics of the lift-drag combined VAWT. The static characteristic is one of the important starting characteristics of the wind turbine. The rapid development of computational fluid dynamics has laid a solid material foundation for VAWT. Thus the static characteristics of the LDCS with different numbers of blades were investigated by conducting numerical simulation and wind tunnel tests. The results demonstrated that the static torque coefficient of LDCS increased significantly with the increased incoming wind speed. The average value of the static torque coefficient also increased significantly. This study can provide guidelines for the research of lift-drag combined wind turbines.


2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1999-2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Péré ◽  
B. Bessagnet ◽  
M. Mallet ◽  
F. Waquet ◽  
I. Chiapello ◽  
...  

Abstract. In this study, we investigate the shortwave aerosol direct radiative forcing (ADRF) and its feedback on air temperature and atmospheric dynamics during a major fire event that occurred in Russia during August 2010. The methodology is based on an offline coupling between the CHIMERE chemistry-transport and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) models. First, simulations for the period 5–12 August 2010 have been evaluated by using AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork) and satellite measurements of the POLarization and Directionality of the Earth's Reflectance (POLDER) and the Cloud-Aerosol LIdar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) sensors. During this period, elevated POLDER aerosol optical thickness (AOT) is found over a large part of eastern Europe, with values above 2 (at 550 nm) in the aerosol plume. According to CALIOP observations, particles remain confined to the first five kilometres of the atmospheric layer. Comparisons with satellite measurements show the ability of CHIMERE to reproduce the regional and vertical distribution of aerosols during their transport from the source region. Over Moscow, AERONET measurements indicate an important increase of AOT (340 nm) from 0.7 on 5 August to 2–4 between 6 and 10 August when the aerosol plume was advected over the city. Particles are mainly observed in the fine size mode (radius in the range 0.2–0.4 μm) and are characterized by elevated single-scattering albedo (SSA) (0.95–0.96 between 440 and 1020 nm). Comparisons of simulations with AERONET measurements show that aerosol physical–optical properties (size distribution, AOT, SSA) have been well simulated over Moscow in terms of intensity and/or spectral dependence. Secondly, modelled aerosol optical properties have been used as input in the radiative transfer code of WRF to evaluate their direct radiative impact. Simulations indicate a significant reduction of solar radiation at the ground (up to 80–150 W m−2 in diurnal averages over a large part of eastern Europe due to the presence of the aerosol plume. This ADRF causes an important reduction of the near-surface air temperature between 0.2 and 2.6° on a regional scale. Moscow has been affected by the aerosol plume, especially between 6 and 10 August. During this period, aerosol causes a significant reduction of surface shortwave radiation (up to 70–84 W m−2 in diurnal averages) with a moderate part (20–30%) due to solar absorption within the aerosol layer. The resulting feedbacks lead to a cooling of the air up to 1.6° at the surface and 0.1° at an altitude of 1500–2000 m (in diurnal averages), that contribute to stabilize the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). Indeed, a reduction of the ABL height of 13 to 65% has been simulated during daytime in presence of aerosols. This decrease is the result of a lower air entrainment as the vertical wind speed in the ABL is shown to be reduced by 5 to 80% (at midday) when the feedback of the ADRF is taken into account. However, the ADRF is shown to have a lower impact on the horizontal wind speed, suggesting that the dilution of particles would be mainly affected by the weakening of the ABL development and associated vertical entrainment. Indeed, CHIMERE simulations driven by the WRF meteorological fields including this ADRF feedback result in a large increase in the modelled near-surface PM10 concentrations (up to 99%). This is due to their lower vertical dilution in the ABL, which tend to reduce model biases with the ground PM10 values observed over Moscow during this specific period.


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