Course syllabus
Branddynamik
Fire Dynamics
VBRF10, 15 credits, G2 (First Cycle)
Valid for: 2021/22
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering, LTH
Decided by: PLED BI/RH
Date of Decision: 2021-04-14
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.
Examination details
Grading scale: TH - (U,3,4,5) - (Fail, Three, Four, Five)
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.
The examiner, in consultation with Disability Support Services, may deviate from the regular form of examination in order to provide a permanently disabled student with a form of examination equivalent to that of a student without a disability.
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). 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.
Admission
Assumed prior knowledge: FMAA05 Calculus in One Variable or FMAB65 Calculus in One Variable B1 together with FMAB70 Calculus in One Variable B2 ,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: Some of the teaching is given in English.