Swirl induced by large area fires. Technical report, 15 November 1984-1 October 1985
Swirl has been suggested as the mechanism responsible for high fire-wind velocities and exceptional plume rises from large area fires. The potential sources of vorticity that could result in a swirling central column are examined. Coriolis forces produce only a small tangential velocity component for the time and length scales appropriate to a city size fire. Similarly, asymmetries in fuel load or burning distribution cannot generate sufficient swirl velocities to influence the plume motion or fire-wind velocities. Neither eddies or rotational systems of scale much larger or smaller than the fire radius can produce swirl. Wind systems with wavelength similar in scale to the fire diameter produce only a negligible tangential velocity component. As a consequence, plumes produced by large area fires are not likely to swirl.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific-Sierra Research Corp., Los Angeles, CA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6994210
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-172540/7/XAB; PSR-676
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ASYMMETRY
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
DIMENSIONS
DISTRIBUTION
EXPLOSIONS
FIRES
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LENGTH
MOTION
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OXIDATION
PLUMES
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VELOCITY
VORTICES
WIND