In recent years, a number of high profile accidental fires have occurred in several road and rail tunnels throughout the world. Many of these fires grew rapidly to catastrophic size and claimed many lives. The processes involved in the rapid growth and extremely severe of these fires are not adequately understood as yet. The introduction to this thesis reviews a number of these accidental fires and describes much of the previous experimental research which has brought about the current understanding of tunnel fire behaviour. A detailed review of the relevant parts of elementary fire dynamics is also presented. This thesis addresses two main questions: 1. What is the influence of longitudinal ventilation on fire size in tunnels? and 2. What is the influence of tunnel geometry on fire size? The answers to both these questions are determined using a probabilistic method called Bayes Theorem. This provides a method of answering the above two questions using the handful of experimental data which are available. It is found that the heat release rate (HRR) of a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) fire may be greatly increased in magnitude by longitudinal ventilation, for example by about a factor of 5 with a longitudinal ventilation velocity of 3ms-1. It is also found that longitudinal ventilation may cause a significant increase in the HRR of large pool fires, but may cause a decrease in the HRR of small pool fires and car fires. An equation is derived to predict the influence of tunnel geometry on HRR. It is found that HRR varies principally with the width of the tunnel and the width of the fire object. The HRR of a fire in a tunnel my be increased up to four times due to the geometry of the tunnel.

"Fire tests involving heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in a road tunnel with forced ventilation in Norway, conducted by SP, demonstrated a pulsation phenomena that is similar to oscillating flames and thermo-acoustic instabilities previously observed in vitiated compartments and resonant systems that meet the Rayleigh criterion, respectively. This current study investigates whether the causal phenomena can be determined using either a simple, one-dimensional fluid dynamics model or a computation fluid dynamics program. It is assumed that the leading cause for pulsation is a locally under-ventilated fire. Theoretical analysis shows that this assumption is valid and how such conditions can cause the flow field to change. A simple model is developed for a tunnel fire with forced, longitudinal ventilation. The results qualitatively represent the test data and support the assumption of a locally vitiated fire. A more sophisticated analysis, involving the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) Version 4.0, provides similar results. Although FDS calibration, using similar experiment data from the Memorial Tunnel Ventilation Test Program, demonstrates model limitations in predicting smoke layers near the solid boundaries under forced flow field, the qualitative results from both models indicates that pulsation in large tunnel fires under forced ventilation conditions results from poor mixing of the bulk flow in the near field of the fire."

Road and railways tunnels are constructed for decreasing the transportation time inside city or intercity. The fire safety systems are mounted for the safe use of tunnels. Therefore, it is important to accurately predict the fire-induced air velocity,temperature and smoke concentrations in tunnel fires in order to design efficient fire protection systems. To this end, scaled tunnel models are used and experiments are carried to understand the phenomena on these tunnel models. In addition, the studies for investigating the tunnel fire phenomena and their methods of modeling techniques for fire experiments are mentioned. In the literature, there is no sufficient information about vehicles&#039 / blockage effect on heat release rate and temperature distribution inside tunnel with different ventilation velocities. As a result, in order to research this subject, the scaled model tunnel is constructed in Fluid Mechanics Laboratory. Based on the Froude number scaling, wood sticks with different configuration inside the model tunnel are burned in a controlled environment. The heat release rate measurement, sampling of gases after combustion, mass loss rate of burning models and temperature distribution along the tunnels with different longitudinal ventilation velocities are measured to investigate the effect of different cross-sectional areas of the burning substances. Furthermore, the model vehicles having a square base area are built according to wood crib theory. The results are investigated with statistical techniques called &quot / Analysis of Variance&quot / and general results have been tried to be reached. It is determined that the variation of air velocity inside tunnel is not so effective, but model vehicle&#039 / s cross sectional area is directly proportional to heat release rate.

Ce travail de thèse est consacré à l'étude de l'interaction entre une aspersion par brouillard d'eau et un feu. Il s'appuie sur une modélisation existante figurant dans le code à champs « Fire Dynamics Simulator ». L'approche consiste en premier lieu à appréhender, par le biais d'une synthèse bibliographique, les phénomènes physiques mis en jeu lors d'un feu en tunnel et lors d'une aspersion par brouillard d'eau. Ensuite, un travail d'évaluation est mené. L'évaluation se veut évolutive, en commençant par des cas simples à l'échelle du laboratoire afin de travailler le plus indépendamment possible sur certaines parties du modèle d'aspersion, pour ensuite s'intéresser à la configuration tunnel. Ce travail d'évaluation permet de mieux cerner les aptitudes du code à simuler les phénomènes physiques mis en jeu lors d'un feu en tunnel soumis ou non à une aspersion. Des comparaisons sont effectuées avec plusieurs essais réalisés entre 2005 et 2008 sur une maquette de tunnel à échelle 1/3. Une fois cette évaluation accomplie, l'outil est exploité pour améliorer notre compréhension des phénomènes d'interaction entre le brouillard d'eau, la ventilation du tunnel et le feu. En particulier, l'influence de l'aspersion sur l'écoulement longitudinal est analysée, le rôle énergétique du brouillard d'eau est mesuré et les modes de transfert de chaleur associés aux gouttes sont quantifiés. Cette exploitation permet également d'évaluer numériquement l'influence de quelques paramètres sur l'efficacité de l'aspersion telles que la vitesse de ventilation longitudinale, la puissance du feu et la taille des gouttes pulvérisées. En dernier lieu, le code champs est exploité dans le cadre d'une étude numérique exploratoire en vue d'une campagne d'essais en bâtiment pour appréhender l'interaction entre l'aspersion, la nappe de fumée et le désenfumage mécanique / This work deals with the study of the phenomena involved when a water mist is sprayed in a tunnel fire environment. It relies on an extensive use of numerical simulations using the CFD code "Fire Dynamics Simulator". The first chapter of this thesis provides an overview of the tunnel fire characteristics and the phenomena involved when the water mist is sprayed. A bibliographical review on the research on tunnel fires with or without any mitigation system is conducted, allowing to outline the reason and the context for this research. In the second and third chapters, the computational tool undergoes testing. It is verified and validated based on comparison with analytical solutions and experimental cases of increasing complexity: from the laboratory scale for assessing one particular part of the water spray model (chapter 2) up to the tunnel scale (chapter 3). For the last case, the code validation makes use of the results of a reduced scale (1/3rd) tunnel fire test campaign conducted between 2005 and 2008. Once the validation is achieved, the computational tool is used intensively in the third chapter in order to improve the understanding of the interaction phenomena between water mist, tunnel longitudinal ventilation and fire. In particular, the water mist influence on the tunnel air flow is studied, the water mist heat contribution is quantified and the heat transfered to the droplets is identified. Furthermore, the CFD code is used to assess the impact of the longitudinal air velocity, the heat release rate and the water droplet size on the water mist efficiency. The last chapter illustrates how a CFD code can be used on a given situation, here a compartment fire test campaign, in order to foresee the interaction between the water mist, the smoke layer and the smoke extraction.

Over the past century, great strides have been made in the advancement of mine fire knowledge since the 1909 Cherry Mine Fire Disaster, one of the worst in U.S. history. However, fire hazards remain omnipresent in underground coal mines in the U.S. and around the world. A precise fire numerical analysis (simulation) before any fire events can give a broad view of the emergency scenarios, leading to improved emergency response, and better health and safety outcomes. However, the simulation cost of precise large complex dynamical systems such as fire in underground mines makes practical and even theoretical application challenging. This work details a novel methodology to reduce fire and airflow simulation costs in order to make simulation of complex systems around fire and mine ventilation systems viable. This study will examine the development of a Reduced Order Model (ROM) to predict the flow field of an underground mine geometry using proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) to reduce the airflow simulation cost in a nonlinear model. ROM proves to be an effective tool for approximating several possible solutions near a known solution, resulting in significant time savings over calculating full solutions and suitable for ensemble calculations. In addition, a novel iterative methodology was developed based on the physics of the fluid structure, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) of the dynamical system, and the vortex dynamics to determine the interface boundary in multiscale (3D-1D) fire simulations of underground space environments. The proposed methodology was demonstrated to be a useful technique for the determination of near and far fire fields, and could be applied across a broad range of flow simulations and mine geometries. Moreover, this research develops a methodology to analyze the tenable limits in a methane fire event in an underground coal mine for bare-faced miners, mine rescue teams, and fire brigade teams in order to improve safety and training of personnel trained to fight fires. The outcomes of this research are specific to mining although the methods outlined might have broader impacts on the other fields such as tunneling and underground spaces technology, HVAC, and fire protection engineering industries. / Ph. D.

Tesis por compendio / [ES] Esta investigación se centra en la caliza de Prada, una formación del Cretácico inferior ubicada en la zona sur pirenaica de Cataluña (España). Se tomaron muestras de roca de sondeos perforados durante la etapa de diseño del túnel de Tres Ponts. El trabajo aquí presentado explora diferentes aspectos relacionados con el comportamiento térmi-co de la caliza de Prada y las consecuencias derivadas en el túnel de Tres Ponts. En primer lugar, este trabajo describe la variación en las propiedades texturales, físicas y mecánicas de la caliza de Prada después de ser sometida a temperaturas de entre 105 y 600 ºC, y luego enfriada a un ritmo lento o mediante templado, y determina las tem-peraturas clave y los métodos de enfriamiento que afectan más la estabilidad en caso de incendio en el túnel de Tres Ponts. En segundo lugar, esta investigación se centra en las causas y mecanismos implicados en el comportamiento explosivo y la liberación de gas sulfuroso observado en una fracción gris oscuro de muestras de caliza de Prada. Las implicaciones de tales muestras de color gris oscuro son críticas en infraestructuras subterráneas y en minería, ya que el potencial explosivo de esas muestras conlleva el riesgo de fracturación masiva y de disminución brusca en la resistencia. Además, el gas sulfuroso liberado tiene efectos nocivos sobre la salud de las personas y el poten-cial de formar compuestos ácidos que corroen los materiales, acortando su durabilidad y aumentando los costes de mantenimiento. Posteriormente, este trabajo determina si el tratamiento térmico sobre la caliza de Prada tiene un efecto significativo en facilitar su perforabilidad. Comprender la variación en el rendimiento de perforación de la caliza de Prada tratada térmicamente ayudaría a mejorar la eficiencia de los medios mecánicos de excavación. Finalmente, se proponen algunas correlaciones para deter-minar indirectamente las características de resistencia, deformación y perforabilidad de la caliza de Prada tras ser tratada térmicamente, a partir de pruebas simples, rápidas y no destructivas. / [CA] Aquesta investigació es centra en la calcària de Prada, una formació del Cretaci inferior situada a la zona sud pirinenca de Catalunya (Espanya). Es van prendre mostres de roca de sondejos perforats durant l'etapa de disseny del túnel de Tres Ponts. El treball aquí presentat explora diferents aspectes relacionats amb el comportament tèrmic de la calcària de Prada i les conseqüències derivades al túnel de Tres Ponts. En primer lloc, aquest treball descriu la variació en les propietats texturals, físiques i mecàniques de la calcària de Prada després de ser tractada a temperatures d'entre 105 i 600 ºC, i després refredada a un ritme lent o ràpid, i determina les temperatures clau i els mètodes de refredament que afecten més l'estabilitat en cas d'incendi al túnel de Tres Ponts. En segon lloc, aquesta investigació es centra en les causes i mecanismes implicats en el comportament explosiu i l'alliberament de gas sulfurós observat en una fracció gris fosc de mostres de calcària de Prada. Les implicacions de tals mostres de color gris fosc són crítiques en infraestructures subterrànies i en mineria, ja que el potencial explosiu d'aquestes mostres comporta el risc de fracturació massiva i de disminució brusca en la resistència. A més, el gas sulfurós alliberat té efectes nocius sobre la salut de les persones i el potencial de formar compostos àcids que corroeixen els materials, retallant la seua durabilitat i augmentant els costos de manteniment. Posteriorment, aquest treball determina si el tractament tèrmic sobre la calcària de Prada té un efecte significatiu en facilitar la seua perforabilitat. Comprendre la variació en el rendiment de perforació de la calcària de Prada tractada tèrmicament ajudaria a millorar l'eficièn-cia dels mitjans mecànics d'excavació. Finalment, es proposen algunes correlacions per determinar indirectament les característiques de resistència, deformació i perforabilitat de la calcària de Prada després de ser tractada tèrmicament, a partir de proves simples, ràpides i no destructives. / [EN] This research is focused on Prada limestone, a lower Cretaceous formation located in the Catalan south Pyrenean zone (Spain). Rock samples were taken from boreholes drilled during the design stage of the Tres Ponts Tunnel. The work presented here explores different aspects related to the thermal behaviour of Prada limestone and the derived consequences on the Tres Ponts Tunnel. Firstly, this work reports the variation in the textural, physical, and mechanical properties of Prada limestone after being heated at temperatures of between 105 and 600 ºC and then cooled at a slow rate or by quenching and determines key temperatures and cooling methods that would most affect stability in case of a fire in the Tres Ponts Tunnel. Secondly, this research fo-cuses on the causes and mechanisms involved in the explosive behaviour and release of sulphurous gas observed on a dark grey fraction of samples from Prada limestone. Implications of such dark grey samples are critical in underground infrastructure and mining engineering works, as the explosive potential of that sample represents risk of mass fracturing and dramatic strength decay. Moreover, the sulphurous gas released has harmful health effects and may form acid compounds that corrode materials, shorten their durability, and increase maintenance costs. Later, this work determines if thermal treatment on Prada limestone has a significant effect on improving its drilla-bility. Understanding the variation in the drilling performance of the thermally treated Prada limestone would help improve the efficiency of mechanical excavation means. Finally, some correlations are proposed to indirectly determine the strength, deformational, and drillability features of Prada limestone after being thermally treated from simple, quick and non-destructive tests. / This research was partially supported by the Spanish Government [grant number RTI2018-099052-B-I00], also the Vice-Rectorate of Research and Knowledge Transfer at the University of Alicante through projects UAUSTI19-25 and UAUSTI20-20, and by the Departamento de Ingeniería del Terreno at the Universitat Politècnica de València. / Martínez Ibáñez, V. (2021). Effects of high temperatures in the physical, mechanical, and drilling features of Prada limestone [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/171023 / Compendio