Course syllabus
Branddynamik
Fire Dynamics
VBRF10, 15 credits, G2 (First Cycle)
Valid for: 2016/17
Decided by: Education Board C
Date of Decision: 2016-03-31
General Information
Compulsory for: BI2
Language of instruction: The course will be given in Swedish
Aim
The overriding aim of the course is that, after taking the
course, the students will understand the various stages that a fire
in a building goes through. Furthermore, the course is aimed at
providing the students with a knowledge base concerning the
different methods and techniques applied in the analysis of a fire
sequence, as well as developing their ability to critically examine
those methods in terms of practical application. The course is also
aimed at increasing the engineering-related ability to construct
and analyse models.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must
- be able to explain the effect of the enclosure on a fire
sequence.
- be able to describe the assumptions in the most widely used
models.
- be able to explain the range of application of the models
(computational and computer) and the applicable constraints for
fire safety engineering computations.
- be able to characterise the various stages of a fire sequence
based on various variables.
- have knowledge of present research and developments within the
area of fire science.
Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must
- be able to apply various manual computation models and computer
models for calculating various variables in a fire sequence.
- be able to calculate the value of various physical variables
associated with a fire sequence.
- be able to analyse and interpret results from fire safety
engineering experiments.
- be able to judge the reasonableness of calculated results
obtained from various computational models.
- be able to estimate data values for input into computational
and computer models where these are lacking in the problem
statement.
- be able to design fire safety engineering systems for control
and handling of combustion gases.
- be able to calculate the conditions in a building during a
fire.
- be able to defend, orally and in writing, his/her choice of
models and assumptions in the analysis of fire sequences in private
and public operations.
- be able to present results from fire safety engineering
experiments in a clear and scientific manner.
- be able to search for and apply information concerning fire
evolution inside buildings in scientific journals and manuals.
- be able to plan and carry out fire safety engineering
experiments.
Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must
- demonstrate a capacity to make judgements on the applicability
of various models to various types of problems.
- demonstrate insight into the responsibilities of a fire
engineer in choosing and reporting parameters in such a way that
the models are used properly.
- demonstrate ability to identify the need for more knowledge
concerning fire development in buildings.
Contents
- Qualitative description of a fire sequence. Ignition, flame
spreading. Various ways of categorising a fire. The effect of the
building on the fire.
- Heat release rate. Mass burning rate and time-dependency of the
heat release rate, the order of magnitude of the heat release rate,
the strengths and weaknesses of various test methods, growth of
alfa-t2, the effect of the enclosure on the heat release rate,
extraction of a power curve.
- Fire plumes and flames. Froude number, mean flame height,
flame-height correlations, various profiles in a plume, ideal
plumes, strong and weak plumes, plume correlations, ceiling jets,
special issues to be considered in the design process,
quasi-stationary conditions, selecting a plume model.
- Pressure profiles. Background on air-flow in buildings.
Bernoulli's equation. Various forms of pressure. Computing
pressure, rate and mass air-flow through openings.
- Gas temperatures. Energy balance, rate of heat transfer,
correlations for computing gas temperatures. Fully-developed fires,
ISO 834, temperature calculation.
- Smoke filling. Pressure build-up in the fire enclosure.
Transient smoke filling models. Stationary models for control of
combustion gases. Various fire safety engineering systems for
handling and control of combustion gases. Continuity equations.
Correlations.
- The influence of the enclosure on the formation of combustion
products.
- Computer modelling. Sub-models for computer models. Model
constraints. CFD models.
Examination details
Grading scale: TH
Assessment: The final certificate is based on a written examination (individual work), home assignments (individual work), and laboratory work reports (group work), and requires active participation in compulsory seminars.
Parts
Code: 0112. Name: Fire Dynamics.
Credits: 8. Grading scale: TH. Assessment: Written examination. Contents: The course is based on lectures and written exercises
Code: 0212. Name: Laboratory Work and Homework.
Credits: 7. Grading scale: UG. Assessment: Home assignments (individual work), and laboratory work reports (group work), and participation in compulsory seminars is also required. Contents: This part of the course contains seminars and home assignments (individual work) and four laboratories (group work).
Admission
Required prior knowledge: FMA415 Mathematics, Calculus in One Variable or FMAA05 Calculus in One Variable ,MMVA01 Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, Basic Course.
The number of participants is limited to: No
The course overlaps following course/s: VBR032, VBR033, VBRF05, VBRN05
Reading list
- Karlsson, B, Quintiere, J G: Enclosure Fire Dynamics. CRC Press,, 1999, ISBN: 0-3-1300-7849.
Contact and other information
Course coordinator: Nils Johansson, nils.johansson@brand.lth.se
Further information: Group assignments require active participation. Each group member must individually be able to account for the content of the assignment. If a group member does not fulfill the demands of the group or ignores hers/his commitment, she/he can be reassigned to another group or get a fail result.