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Heat release rate and computer fire modelling vs real‐scale fire tests in passenger trains
Author(s) -
Capote Jorge A.,
Alvear Daniel,
Lázaro Mariano,
Espina Pablo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
fire and materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-1018
pISSN - 0308-0501
DOI - 10.1002/fam.962
Subject(s) - cone calorimeter , fire test , train , ignition system , fire performance , engineering , fire dynamics simulator , simulation , heat flux , flame spread , scale (ratio) , automotive engineering , environmental science , smoke , structural engineering , heat transfer , combustion , aerospace engineering , waste management , fire resistance , materials science , chemistry , composite material , char , pyrolysis , thermodynamics , physics , cartography , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , geography
The materials and products used in passenger trains may not be the first ignited element, but during the fire development, these materials, especially ceiling linings and wall coverings, contribute significantly to the fire growth. The fire safety requirements in passenger trains consist mainly of bench‐scale tests, with particular focus on the sample geometry, position and fire exposition. When this information is extrapolated to real end use conditions limitations appear. In this paper, a discussion of the use of fire dynamics simulator model and heat release rate experiments in cone calorimeter (bench‐scale test) is presented in order to represent the fire development in a passenger train compartment. For the study, two fire scenarios were selected: (1) the single burning item SBI test (modified) and (2) a passenger train compartment. Initially, the limitations of the assumptions and hypothesis made when producing the model were analyzed and the research team carried out a sensitivity study of the model results considering different grid sizes. In order to validate the model, both bench‐ and full‐scale fire tests were considered based on the results provided by the European research program FIRESTARR. The limitations and uncertainties in the results demonstrate the importance of two basic factors: the incident heat flux in the cone calorimeter tests and the prescribed ignition temperature. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.