Numerical Investigation of the Combined Effect of Terrain Slope and Wind Velocity on Fire Spread Rate in Natural Pastures
Analyzing wildfire behavior is crucial due to its significant environmental repercussions. Among the various influencing factors, terrain slope and wind velocity are pivotal in governing fire spread characteristics. In the present study, we investigate the influence of negative terrain slopes (up to...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Modelling |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3951/6/1/15 |
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| author | Reza Shojaei Mehr Esmaeil Mohammadian Bishe Bijan Farhanieh Hossein Afshin |
| author_facet | Reza Shojaei Mehr Esmaeil Mohammadian Bishe Bijan Farhanieh Hossein Afshin |
| author_sort | Reza Shojaei Mehr |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Analyzing wildfire behavior is crucial due to its significant environmental repercussions. Among the various influencing factors, terrain slope and wind velocity are pivotal in governing fire spread characteristics. In the present study, we investigate the influence of negative terrain slopes (up to −45°), backward wind velocities (up to 2 m/s), and their combined effects on the surface fire spread rate using the Wildland-Urban Fire Dynamics Simulator (WFDS). Wind velocity in backward flows reduces the rate of spread by 40% at 30° angles, primarily due to the suppression of radiative heat transfer leading to reduced preheating unburnt areas. However, this effect reduces on lower slopes. The key findings reveal a significant increase in fire intensity and the rate of spread when the terrain slope exceeds 20°. The fire front shape evolves from a relatively flat rounded U-shape to a V-shape; it is shown that a downward slope slightly affects the spread rate, and the fire front shape stays flat. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c806499e6e454c3aa2a7229601b582d0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-3951 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Modelling |
| spelling | doaj-art-c806499e6e454c3aa2a7229601b582d02025-08-20T03:43:37ZengMDPI AGModelling2673-39512025-02-01611510.3390/modelling6010015Numerical Investigation of the Combined Effect of Terrain Slope and Wind Velocity on Fire Spread Rate in Natural PasturesReza Shojaei Mehr0Esmaeil Mohammadian Bishe1Bijan Farhanieh2Hossein Afshin3School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 14588-89694, IranSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 14588-89694, IranSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 14588-89694, IranSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 14588-89694, IranAnalyzing wildfire behavior is crucial due to its significant environmental repercussions. Among the various influencing factors, terrain slope and wind velocity are pivotal in governing fire spread characteristics. In the present study, we investigate the influence of negative terrain slopes (up to −45°), backward wind velocities (up to 2 m/s), and their combined effects on the surface fire spread rate using the Wildland-Urban Fire Dynamics Simulator (WFDS). Wind velocity in backward flows reduces the rate of spread by 40% at 30° angles, primarily due to the suppression of radiative heat transfer leading to reduced preheating unburnt areas. However, this effect reduces on lower slopes. The key findings reveal a significant increase in fire intensity and the rate of spread when the terrain slope exceeds 20°. The fire front shape evolves from a relatively flat rounded U-shape to a V-shape; it is shown that a downward slope slightly affects the spread rate, and the fire front shape stays flat.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3951/6/1/15wildfire spreadfire dynamicsWFDSnumerical simulationrate of spreadwind velocity |
| spellingShingle | Reza Shojaei Mehr Esmaeil Mohammadian Bishe Bijan Farhanieh Hossein Afshin Numerical Investigation of the Combined Effect of Terrain Slope and Wind Velocity on Fire Spread Rate in Natural Pastures Modelling wildfire spread fire dynamics WFDS numerical simulation rate of spread wind velocity |
| title | Numerical Investigation of the Combined Effect of Terrain Slope and Wind Velocity on Fire Spread Rate in Natural Pastures |
| title_full | Numerical Investigation of the Combined Effect of Terrain Slope and Wind Velocity on Fire Spread Rate in Natural Pastures |
| title_fullStr | Numerical Investigation of the Combined Effect of Terrain Slope and Wind Velocity on Fire Spread Rate in Natural Pastures |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical Investigation of the Combined Effect of Terrain Slope and Wind Velocity on Fire Spread Rate in Natural Pastures |
| title_short | Numerical Investigation of the Combined Effect of Terrain Slope and Wind Velocity on Fire Spread Rate in Natural Pastures |
| title_sort | numerical investigation of the combined effect of terrain slope and wind velocity on fire spread rate in natural pastures |
| topic | wildfire spread fire dynamics WFDS numerical simulation rate of spread wind velocity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3951/6/1/15 |
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