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Ignitor and Thickness Effects on Upward Flame Spread

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Abstract

The effects of a material's ignitor characteristics and burning duration on upward wall flame spread are investigated. The ignitor is represented as an energy line source. Its energy release rate and its duration after ignition are considered. The material is represented as a finite, thick noncharring material with properties representative of polymethylmethracrylate (PMMA). A Volterra integral equation is solved for upward flame speed by numerical methods, and a transient, noncharring burning rate model is included. Results show the influence on propagation of ignitor effects and material thickness. A propagation map is computed showing the domains of flames that spread and flames that stop. Criteria for propagation and how propagation affects fire growth are considered in a standard room-corner test.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland

    J. Q. Quintiere & C. H. Lee

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  1. J. Q. Quintiere
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  2. C. H. Lee
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Quintiere, J.Q., Lee, C.H. Ignitor and Thickness Effects on Upward Flame Spread. Fire Technology 34, 18–38 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015356830962

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015356830962

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