Abstract / Description of output
Half a century after its introduction Rothermel’s flame spread model (Rothermel 1972) continues to find widespread use within fire modelling tools (e.g. BehavePlus, NEXUS, FARSITE) with few modifications incorporated (Albini 1976; Andrews et al. 2013). Rothermel’s model is underpinned by a physics-based framework based on conservation of energy, with the spread rate (R) described as the ratio between the energy transferred to the fuel (heat source) and the energy required for ignition (heat sink),
R = (IR ξ (1 + ϕw + ϕs )) / (ρb ϵ Qig ) (1)
where the energy transferred to the unburnt fuel incorporates reaction intensity (IR), propagating flux ratio (ξ), and wind (ϕw) and slope correction factors (ϕs). Energy required for ignition is given by the product of the oven-dry bulk density (ρb), effective heating number (ϵ), and heat of pre-ignition (Qig).
R = (IR ξ (1 + ϕw + ϕs )) / (ρb ϵ Qig ) (1)
where the energy transferred to the unburnt fuel incorporates reaction intensity (IR), propagating flux ratio (ξ), and wind (ϕw) and slope correction factors (ϕs). Energy required for ignition is given by the product of the oven-dry bulk density (ρb), effective heating number (ϵ), and heat of pre-ignition (Qig).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Conference Proceedings Fire & Climate |
| Subtitle of host publication | Impacts, Issues & Futures |
| Place of Publication | Missoula, Montana, USA |
| Publisher | International Association of Wildland Fire |
| Pages | 154 |
| Number of pages | 158 |
| Publication status | Published - 2023 |
| Event | Fire and Climate Conference 2022 - https://fireandclimateconference.com/, Pasadena, United States Duration: 23 May 2022 → 27 May 2022 |
Conference
| Conference | Fire and Climate Conference 2022 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United States |
| City | Pasadena |
| Period | 23/05/22 → 27/05/22 |