On the prediction of fire-induced vent flows using FDS

Abstract

In an attempt to investigate the accuracy of predictions of fire-induced flow into a compartment by Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), a follow-up study was explored by comparing with the Steckler’s experimental data obtained at National Bureau of Standards in 1979. Improvements to the previous study include finer grids, an inclusion of radiative heat in the combustion model, and an increased computational domain. The burner location for the modeling scenarios of fire at corner or against wall are shifted to compensate for the reduced entrainment. The input and set-up changes made to the FDS simulation allowed significant improvements in the prediction of mass flow rates for all three positions of the fire source. However, there is not much improvement for the remaining three parameters being compared: lower layer temperature, smoke layer height, and neutral plane height.