Fuel and Ventilation Controlled Fires

Abstract

Fire safety engineering in tunnels is essential in order to obtain good safety for tun- nel users. The knowledge about fire safety in tunnels has increased over the past few decades due to both new research and analysis of real accidents. The aim of this book is to give researchers, engineers, and authorities worldwide a good insight into the fire phenomena in tunnels and the physics behind it. Guidance in calcula- tion of important parameters such as heat release rates, critical velocity, spread of smoke gases and heat, temperatures, heat fluxes, fire spread, and flame lengths is given as well as the theories behind them. A comprehensive overview of how fires in vehicles develop and how different physical parameters such as flammability, ventilation, and geometry influence them is presented. The focus is not on the de- sign aspects of fire safety in tunnels, although some parts are described. It is more about understanding the dynamics and developments of fires in tunnels and other underground constructions. The tunnels are becoming more and more complex and the need for performance based design increases. The authors have found the need for presenting and gath- ering the latest knowledge on fire research and experience from different testing. Therefore, the emphasis is on engineering relations and physics of fires. This will provide good and solid background information which the readers can on their own hand, use in its daily research and engineering work. The knowledge presented here comes very much from research that the authors have been involved in, but also from other large-scale experiments and practical experience. The book can also serve as a base for a university education for those who are interested to understand the basics of tunnel fire safety engineering using correlations and formulas obtained within different fields.