Modeling Urban Fire Growth
Report Number: CONF-8305107, p. 176-182
Author(s): Waterman, T. E., Takata, A. N.
Corporate Author(s): IIT Research Institute
Laboratory: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Date of Publication: 1983-07
Pages: 7
DoD Task:
Identifier: This paper is part of a conference proceedings. See ADA132780
Abstract:
Under FEMA Contract DCPAOl-79-C-2O65, IIT Research Institute (IITRI) employed existing models for debris transport and fire behavior to assess the value of existing blast/fire/people survivability data. Presentations at prior Asilomar Conferences have addressed debris transport and overviewed survivability results. The purpose of this presentation is to examine potential weaknesses of the fire spread model. The IITRI Urban Fire Spread Model as well as others of similar vintage were constrained by computer size and running costs such that many approximations/generalizations were introduced to reduce program complexity and data storage requirements. Simplifications were introduced both in input data and in fire growth and spread calculations. Modern computational capabilities offer the means to introduce greater detail and to examine its practical significance on urban fire predictions. Selected portions of the model are described as presently configured, and potential modifications are discussed. A single tract model is hypothesized which permits the importance of various model details to be assessed, and, other model applications are identified.
Author(s): Waterman, T. E., Takata, A. N.
Corporate Author(s): IIT Research Institute
Laboratory: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Date of Publication: 1983-07
Pages: 7
DoD Task:
Identifier: This paper is part of a conference proceedings. See ADA132780
Abstract:
Under FEMA Contract DCPAOl-79-C-2O65, IIT Research Institute (IITRI) employed existing models for debris transport and fire behavior to assess the value of existing blast/fire/people survivability data. Presentations at prior Asilomar Conferences have addressed debris transport and overviewed survivability results. The purpose of this presentation is to examine potential weaknesses of the fire spread model. The IITRI Urban Fire Spread Model as well as others of similar vintage were constrained by computer size and running costs such that many approximations/generalizations were introduced to reduce program complexity and data storage requirements. Simplifications were introduced both in input data and in fire growth and spread calculations. Modern computational capabilities offer the means to introduce greater detail and to examine its practical significance on urban fire predictions. Selected portions of the model are described as presently configured, and potential modifications are discussed. A single tract model is hypothesized which permits the importance of various model details to be assessed, and, other model applications are identified.