154 - Fire Fundamentals pt. 8 - Compartment Fire

Happy birthday, Fire Science Show! 

On the 3rd Anniversary of the podcast launch, I'm thrilled to deliver an episode on one of the most fascinating aspects of fire science - the compartment fire. Instead of going through the usual curriculum of the phases of fire, transitioning into flashover and flashover itself, I instead focus on the methodology's practical aspects. Which parts of the building have the largest impact on the fire? What is the impact of the opening? How much fuel matters? What happens in a large compartment, and how does it differ from a small one? Those are the sorts of questions I've asked myself while preparing for this episode, and the answers are hopefully in the episode.

In the episode, I highlight the essential contributions of key figures like Quintiere, Drysdale,  Kawagoe, Haramathy and Torero, whose pioneering work has shaped our understanding of fire dynamics. Listen as we dissect the impact of openings on fire behaviour, the role of materials, and the challenges of modelling complex fire scenarios, offering practical insights for fire engineers.

Reflecting on historical milestones and recent advancements, we also examine the travelling fire framework and its application in the structural analysis of large buildings. This episode emphasizes the significance of parametric fire curves and the need for an integrated approach to fire physics in engineering. 

If you would like to dive deeper, read:

• D.Drysdale, Introduction to Fire Dynamics (book)
• B. Karlsson and J. Quintiere, Enclosure fire dynamics (book)
• J. Torero et al., (2014) Revisiting the Compartment Fire

And two classics:

• T.Z. Haramathy, A new look at Compartment Fires Part I and Part II (1972)
• K. Kawagoe, Fire Behaviour in Rooms, Report of the Building Research Institute No. 27 (1958) - this one I do not have the direct link, so I will take a bit of a search.

Thank you for being with the Fire Science Show for 3 years! As we celebrate our commitment to delivering high-quality content every Wednesday, I look ahead with excitement and gratitude, dedicated to continuing our shared journey of learning and discovery in the fascinating world of fire science. Thank you for being part of our community, and here's to many more enlightening episodes!

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