Wind in a Natural and Artificial Wildland Fire Fuel Bed
Abstract
Fuel beds represent the layer of fuel that typically supports continuous combustion and wildland fire spread. We examine how wind propagates through and above loose and packed pine needle beds and artificial 3D-printed fuel beds in a wind tunnel. Vertical profiles of horizontal velocities are measured for three artificial fuel beds with prescribed porosities and two types of fuel beds made with long-leaf pine needles. The dependence of the mean velocity within the fuel bed with respect to the ambient velocity is linked to the porosity. Experimental results show significant structure to the vertical profile of mean flow within the bed, and suggest that small-scale sweeps and ejections play a role in this system redistributing momentum similar to larger-scale canopy flows.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jun 09, 2021
- Source ID
- 10.3390/fire4020030
Entities
People
- Bryan Quaife
- Gabrielle Mayans
- Kevin Speer
- Liam White
- Robert W. Smith
- Yana Bebieva
Organizations
- Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program