Numerical approaches for fire modelling with turbulent, combustion, soot and radiation considerations

Modelling of fIres has contributed signifIcantly to the modem development of fIre safety science and the blossoming of the discipline of fIre engineering. Suitable numerical simulation tools have effectively taken centre stage for practicing fIre engineers to exploit the freedoms offered under the performance-based fIre engineering approach. In this article, we review the state-of-the-art deterministic fIre models based on the approach of fIeld modelling utilizing the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques. Special attention is also directed towards the necessity to adopt relevant models and the historical development in handling the combustion and soot chemistry and radiation heat transfer in fIre simulations. The structure of this article consists of three main parts: (i) Historical development of fIre models; (ii) Implementation of relevant combustion, radiation and soot sub-models and (iii) Possible aspects of the future development in fIre modelling. In the fust part, discussion will centre on the revelation of the complex chemo-physical behaviour of building fues and the challenges being faced in numerical modelling. A comprehensive review of the historical development of fue models will then follow by the unveiling of the basic framework of fIeld modelling technique.