A interação turbulência-radiação (TRI, do inglês Turbulence-Radiation Interaction) resulta do acoplamento altamente não linear entre flutuações da intensidade de radiação e flutuações da temperatura e da composição química do meio, e tem-se demonstrado experimentalmente, teoricamente e numericamente que este é um fenômeno relevante em diversas aplicações envolvendo altas temperaturas, especialmente em problemas reativos. Neste trabalho, o TRI é analisado em um escoamento interno não reativo de um gás participante que se desenvolve em um duto de seção transversal quadrada, para diferentes intensidades de turbulência do escoamento e considerando duas espécies distintas para a composição do fluido de trabalho (dióxido de carbono e vapor de água). O objetivo central é avaliar como a inclusão ou não da variação espectral das propriedades radiativas do meio no cálculo influencia a magnitude do TRI. Isso é feito através de simulações numéricas no código de dinâmica dos fluidos computacional Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), que resolve, através do método dos volumes finitos, as equações fundamentais que regem o problema – isto é, os balanços de massa, de quantidade de movimento e de energia e a equação de estado – em uma formulação adequada para baixos números de Mach, utilizando um algoritmo de solução explícito e de segunda ordem no tempo e no espaço. A turbulência é modelada através da simulação de grandes escalas (LES, do inglês Large Eddy Simulation), empregando-se o modelo de Smagorinsky dinâmico para o fechamento dos termos submalha; para a radiação térmica, o método dos volumes finitos é utilizado na discretização da equação da transferência radiativa e os modelos do gás cinza e da soma-ponderada-de-gases-cinza (WSGG, do inglês Weighted-Sum-of-Gray-Gases) são implementados como forma de desconsiderar e de incluir a dependência espectral das propriedades radiativas, respectivamente. A magnitude do TRI sobre o problema é avaliada através de diferenças entre as médias temporais dos fluxos de calor superficiais e do termo fonte radiativo obtidas em cálculos que consideram os efeitos do fenômeno e cálculos que os negligenciam. Em geral, a interação turbulência-radiação mostrou ser pouco importante em todos os casos considerados, o que concorda com resultados de outros estudos sobre o tema em escoamento não reativos. Com o modelo WSGG, as contribuições do fenômeno foram maiores do que com a hipótese do gás cinza, evidenciando que a inclusão da variação espectral na solução do problema radiativo tem um impacto sobre a magnitude dos efeitos do TRI. Além disso, é feita uma discussão, em parte inédita no contexto do TRI, sobre diferentes metodologias para a análise do fenômeno. Finalmente, é proposto um fator de correção para o termo fonte radiativo médio no modelo WSGG, que é validado através de sua implementação nos casos simulados. Em estudos futuros, uma análise de sensibilidade sobre os termos constituintes desse fator de correção pode levar a um melhor entendimento de como as flutuações de temperatura se correlacionam com o fenômeno da interação turbulência-radiação. / Turbulence-radiation interaction (TRI) results from the highly non-linear coupling between fluctuations of radiation intensity and fluctuations of temperature and chemical composition of the medium, and its relevance in a number of high-temperature problems, especially when chemical reactions are included, has been demonstrated experimentally, theoretically, and numerically. In the present study, the TRI is analyzed in a channel flow of a non-reactive participating gas for different turbulence intensities of the flow at the inlet and considering two distinct species for the medium composition (carbon dioxide and water vapor). The central objective is to evaluate how the inclusion or not of the spectral variation of the radiative properties of a participating gas in the radiative transfer calculations affects the turbulence-radiation interaction. With this purpose, numerical simulations are performed using the computational fluid dynamics Fortranbased code Fire Dynamics Simulator, that employs the finite volume method to solve a form of the fundamental equations – i.e., the mass, momentum and energy balances and the state equation – appropriate for low Mach number flows, through an explicit second-order (both in time and in space) core algorithm. Turbulence is modeled by the large eddy simulation approach (LES), using the dynamic Smagorinsky model to close the subgrid-scale terms; for the thermal radiation part of the problem, the finite volume method is used for the discretization of the radiative transfer equation and the gray gas and weighted-sum-of-gray-gases (WSGG) models are implemented as a way to omit and consider the spectral dependence of the radiative properties, respectively. The TRI magnitude in the problem is evaluated by differences between values for the time-averaged heat fluxes at the wall (convective and radiative) and for the time-averaged radiative heat source calculated accounting for and neglecting the turbulence-radiation interaction effects. In general, TRI had little importance over all the considered cases, a conclusion that agrees with results of previous studies. When using the WSGG model, the contributions of the phenomenon were greater that with the gray gas hypothesis, demonstrating that the inclusion of the spectral variance in the solution of the radiative problem has an impact in the TRI effects. Furthermore, this paper presents a discussion, partly unprecedented in the context of the turbulence-radiation interaction, about the different methodologies that can be used for the TRI analysis. Finally, a correction factor is proposed for the time-averaged radiative heat source in the WSGG model, which is then validated by its implementation in the simulated cases. In future studies, a sensibility analysis on the terms that compose this factor can lead to a better understanding of how fluctuations of temperature correlate with the turbulence-radiation interaction phenomenon.

A interação turbulência-radiação (TRI, do inglês Turbulence-Radiation Interaction) resulta do acoplamento altamente não linear entre flutuações da intensidade de radiação e flutuações da temperatura e da composição química do meio, e tem-se demonstrado experimentalmente, teoricamente e numericamente que este é um fenômeno relevante em diversas aplicações envolvendo altas temperaturas, especialmente em problemas reativos. Neste trabalho, o TRI é analisado em um escoamento interno não reativo de um gás participante que se desenvolve em um duto de seção transversal quadrada, para diferentes intensidades de turbulência do escoamento e considerando duas espécies distintas para a composição do fluido de trabalho (dióxido de carbono e vapor de água). O objetivo central é avaliar como a inclusão ou não da variação espectral das propriedades radiativas do meio no cálculo influencia a magnitude do TRI. Isso é feito através de simulações numéricas no código de dinâmica dos fluidos computacional Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), que resolve, através do método dos volumes finitos, as equações fundamentais que regem o problema – isto é, os balanços de massa, de quantidade de movimento e de energia e a equação de estado – em uma formulação adequada para baixos números de Mach, utilizando um algoritmo de solução explícito e de segunda ordem no tempo e no espaço. A turbulência é modelada através da simulação de grandes escalas (LES, do inglês Large Eddy Simulation), empregando-se o modelo de Smagorinsky dinâmico para o fechamento dos termos submalha; para a radiação térmica, o método dos volumes finitos é utilizado na discretização da equação da transferência radiativa e os modelos do gás cinza e da soma-ponderada-de-gases-cinza (WSGG, do inglês Weighted-Sum-of-Gray-Gases) são implementados como forma de desconsiderar e de incluir a dependência espectral das propriedades radiativas, respectivamente. A magnitude do TRI sobre o problema é avaliada através de diferenças entre as médias temporais dos fluxos de calor superficiais e do termo fonte radiativo obtidas em cálculos que consideram os efeitos do fenômeno e cálculos que os negligenciam. Em geral, a interação turbulência-radiação mostrou ser pouco importante em todos os casos considerados, o que concorda com resultados de outros estudos sobre o tema em escoamento não reativos. Com o modelo WSGG, as contribuições do fenômeno foram maiores do que com a hipótese do gás cinza, evidenciando que a inclusão da variação espectral na solução do problema radiativo tem um impacto sobre a magnitude dos efeitos do TRI. Além disso, é feita uma discussão, em parte inédita no contexto do TRI, sobre diferentes metodologias para a análise do fenômeno. Finalmente, é proposto um fator de correção para o termo fonte radiativo médio no modelo WSGG, que é validado através de sua implementação nos casos simulados. Em estudos futuros, uma análise de sensibilidade sobre os termos constituintes desse fator de correção pode levar a um melhor entendimento de como as flutuações de temperatura se correlacionam com o fenômeno da interação turbulência-radiação. / Turbulence-radiation interaction (TRI) results from the highly non-linear coupling between fluctuations of radiation intensity and fluctuations of temperature and chemical composition of the medium, and its relevance in a number of high-temperature problems, especially when chemical reactions are included, has been demonstrated experimentally, theoretically, and numerically. In the present study, the TRI is analyzed in a channel flow of a non-reactive participating gas for different turbulence intensities of the flow at the inlet and considering two distinct species for the medium composition (carbon dioxide and water vapor). The central objective is to evaluate how the inclusion or not of the spectral variation of the radiative properties of a participating gas in the radiative transfer calculations affects the turbulence-radiation interaction. With this purpose, numerical simulations are performed using the computational fluid dynamics Fortranbased code Fire Dynamics Simulator, that employs the finite volume method to solve a form of the fundamental equations – i.e., the mass, momentum and energy balances and the state equation – appropriate for low Mach number flows, through an explicit second-order (both in time and in space) core algorithm. Turbulence is modeled by the large eddy simulation approach (LES), using the dynamic Smagorinsky model to close the subgrid-scale terms; for the thermal radiation part of the problem, the finite volume method is used for the discretization of the radiative transfer equation and the gray gas and weighted-sum-of-gray-gases (WSGG) models are implemented as a way to omit and consider the spectral dependence of the radiative properties, respectively. The TRI magnitude in the problem is evaluated by differences between values for the time-averaged heat fluxes at the wall (convective and radiative) and for the time-averaged radiative heat source calculated accounting for and neglecting the turbulence-radiation interaction effects. In general, TRI had little importance over all the considered cases, a conclusion that agrees with results of previous studies. When using the WSGG model, the contributions of the phenomenon were greater that with the gray gas hypothesis, demonstrating that the inclusion of the spectral variance in the solution of the radiative problem has an impact in the TRI effects. Furthermore, this paper presents a discussion, partly unprecedented in the context of the turbulence-radiation interaction, about the different methodologies that can be used for the TRI analysis. Finally, a correction factor is proposed for the time-averaged radiative heat source in the WSGG model, which is then validated by its implementation in the simulated cases. In future studies, a sensibility analysis on the terms that compose this factor can lead to a better understanding of how fluctuations of temperature correlate with the turbulence-radiation interaction phenomenon.

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Heathlands typically experience regimes consisting of frequent and intense fires. These fire regimes play important roles in the lifecycles and population dynamics of all species in these communities. Prescribed fire is commonly applied to heathlands to minimise the risk of wildfires as well as to promote biodiversity. Ignitions in heathlands tend to either be unsustainable, or quickly develop into rapidly spreading intense fires. This presents a major problem for the application of prescribed fire and is the primary focus of this thesis. Heathland ignition has been investigated in three sections; litter ignition; vertical development of fire into the shrub layer; and horizontal spread through the shrub layer. These were studied in laboratory experiments using miniature versions of field fuels. Ignition success in litter layers was related to the dead fuel moisture content. Litter type, ignition source, and presence of wind were found to affect the range of ignitable fuel moisture contents of a litter bed. The effect of litter type was best explained by density. Dense litter beds required drier conditions for ignition than low density litter beds. The vertical development of fire into shrubs was mostly dependent on live fuel moisture content, but crown base height, presence of wind, ignition source, shrub height and the percentage of dead elevated fuel were also important. Horizontal spread of fires through shrub layers was most affected by the presence of a litter layer, with nearly all ignitions successful when there was an underlying litter fire. Fire spread would only occur in shrubs without a litter layer when the shrub layer was dense and dry, or had a substantial dead fuel component. Spread was more likely to be sustained when there was wind. Models predicting the moisture content of dead fuels were tested in heathlands, and as would be expected those that can be calibrated for different fuel types were found to have the best performance. Fuel moisture content and fuel load models were reviewed for heathlands, and a number of recommendations for future research were made.

An understanding of compartment fire behaviour is important for fire protection engineers. For design purposes, whether to use a prescriptive code or performance based design, life safety and property protection issues are required to be assessed. The use of design fires in computer modelling is the general method to determine fire safety. However these computer models are generally limited to the input of one design fire, with consideration of the complex interaction between fuel packages and the compartment environment being simplified. Of particular interest is the Heat Release Rate, HRR, as this is the commonly prescribed design parameter for fire modelling. If the HRR is not accurate then it can be subsequently argued that the design scenario may be flawed. Therefore the selection of the most appropriate fire design scenario is critical, and an increased level of understanding of compartment behaviour is an invaluable aid to fire engineering assumptions. This thesis details an experimental study to enhance the understanding of the impact and interaction that the size and location of pool fires within an enclosure have upon the compartment fire behaviour. Thirty four experiments were conducted in a reduced scale compartment (½ height) with dimensions of 3.6m long by 2.4m wide by 1.2m high using five typical ventilation geometries (fully open, soffit, door, window and small window). Heptane pool fires were used, located in permutations of three evenly distributed locations within the compartment (rear, centre and front) as well as larger equivalent area pans located only in the centre. This thesis describes the experimental development, setup and results of the experimental study. To assist in the classification of compartment fire behaviour during the experiments, a ‘phi’ meter was developed to measure the time dependent equivalence ratio. The phi meter was developed and configured to measure O₂, CO₂ and CO. The background development, calibration, and experimental results are reported. A review of compartment fire modelling using Fire Dynamics Simulator, has also been completed and the results discussed. The results of this experimental study were found to have significant implications for Fire Safety Engineering in that the size of the fire is not as significant as the location of the fire. The effect of a fire near the vent opening was found to have a significant impact on compartment fire behaviour with the vent located fuel source increasing the total compartment heat release rate by a factor of 1.7 to that of a centrally placed pool fire of the same total fuel area. The assumption that a fire located in the centre of the room provides for the highest heat release rate is not valid for post-flashover compartment fires. The phi meter was found to provide good agreement with the equivalence ratio calculated from total compartment mass loss rates, and the results of FDS modelling indicate that the use of the model in its current form can not be applied to complex pool fire geometries.