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A Mathematical Model for Predicting Fire Spread in Wildland Fuels.

PB210095

Publication Date	1972
Personal Author	Rothermel, R. C.
Page Count	47
Abstract	The development of a mathematical model for predicting rate of fire spread and intensity applicable to a wide range of wildland fuels is presented from the conceptual stage through evaluation and demonstration of results to hypothetical fuel models. The model was developed for and is now being used as a basis for appraising fire spread and intensity in the National Fire-Danger Rating system. The initial work was done using fuel arrays composed of uniform size particles. Three fuel sizes were tested over a wide range of bulk densities. The concept of fuel models is introduced, wherein parameters of wildland fuels necessary for inputs to the model are categorized and tabulated. These are then used to predict fire spread and intensity; this eliminates the need for repeatedly measuring such parameters. The conceptual approach recognizes that fuels have inherent characteristics that are repeatable. (Author)
Keywords	Forest fires Mathematical prediction Mathematical models Heat flux Preignition Flame propagation Reaction kinetics Heat sinks Evaluation Experimental data Wildland fires
Source Agency	Invalid Source Agency Code
NTIS Subject Category	48D - Forestry
Corporate Authors	Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, Utah.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Final rept. Jan-Nov 71.
NTIS Issue Number	197215

A Mathematical Model for Predicting Fire Spread in Wildland Fuels.

A Mathematical Model for Predicting Fire Spread in Wildland Fuels.
PB210095

Publication Date	1972
Personal Author	Rothermel, R. C.
Page Count	47
Abstract	The development of a mathematical model for predicting rate of fire spread and intensity applicable to a wide range of wildland fuels is presented from the conceptual stage through evaluation and demonstration of results to hypothetical fuel models. The model was developed for and is now being used as a basis for appraising fire spread and intensity in the National Fire-Danger Rating system. The initial work was done using fuel arrays composed of uniform size particles. Three fuel sizes were tested over a wide range of bulk densities. The concept of fuel models is introduced, wherein parameters of wildland fuels necessary for inputs to the model are categorized and tabulated. These are then used to predict fire spread and intensity; this eliminates the need for repeatedly measuring such parameters. The conceptual approach recognizes that fuels have inherent characteristics that are repeatable. (Author)
Keywords	Forest fires Mathematical prediction Mathematical models Heat flux Preignition Flame propagation Reaction kinetics Heat sinks Evaluation Experimental data Wildland fires
Source Agency	Invalid Source Agency Code
NTIS Subject Category	48D - Forestry
Corporate Authors	Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, Utah.
Document Type	Technical Report
Title Note	Final rept. Jan-Nov 71.
NTIS Issue Number	197215