Analysis on smoke visibility in fire environment from the perspectives of path curvature and view direction

Abstract

Besides internal factors like fire growth and its smoke properties, smoke visibility is influenced by external factors like view direction and path curvature. However, the two external factors are not included in the simulation of in Fire Dynamic Simulator (FDS). To make up for the gap, this paper explores the extinction coefficient of smoke based on path curvature, and discusses the affordance of road signs from the perspective of path curvature and view direction, creating a new equation for visibility. The author also compared the visibility values of the new equation and the FDS model. Finally, the new expression of smoke visibility was illustrated through an example of sign design in curved segment. The research results provide a valuable reference for the design of signage system for evacuation in the fire environment.