Impact of the bulk density on fire spread through a homogenous vegetation layer

Abstract

The bulk density as definition represents the ratio between the packing ratio and the density of the vegetation. Therefore, it is directly related to the fuel load, the height and to the porosity of the vegetation. In fact, the bulk density plays an important role in fire propagation and behavior. Due to its dependence on the fuel porosity, the bulk density influences heat transfers inside the fuel bed, so, it can affect directly the rate of spread. Or, the bulk density influences also the fire intensity and flame characteristics (residence time, height and depth) due to its dependence of the fuel load and fuel bed height. However, despite the important influence of the bulk density on fire propagation, the literature does not clarify its impact on fire behavior, different points of view can be exanimated. So, the aim of this study is to investigate the role played by the bulk density upon both propagation parameters and heat transfer of a surface fire through a homogeneous vegetation layer. Investigations were conducted numerically using “FireStar2D”, a complete physical model based on multiphase formulation. Also, experimentally, tests were constructed at the university of Corsica at laboratory scale under no wind and no slope condition. In order to study the elementary effect of the bulk density on fire behavior, three different cases were evaluated: (a) variable fuel load with a constant bulk density, (b) variable fuel load and variable bulk density, (c) variable bulk density with a constant fuel load. Case (a) was only studied numerically, the obtained results are in agreement with the literature: the rate of spread increases with the fuel load until a specific value where the ROS becomes independent of it. Case (b) was evaluated numerically and experimentally using a fix fuel bed height. The numerical and the experimental results showed that the ROS is barely affected by both fuel load and bulk density. Finally, the results of the last case, with a constant fuel load, showed numerically the same tendency proposed by Rothermel: the rate of spread reaches a maximum value at an optimal packing ratio that depends of the surface-volume ratio of the vegetation. Or, experimentally the ROS decreases with the increase of the bulk density. Different variables such as the optical thickness, the fire intensity, the residence time, the radiation and convection heat fluxes have been analyzed.