Back to results

Virginia Tech

Predicting Flow in Firebrand Pile using Pore Network Model

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Firebrand pile ignition of adjacent materials requires an in-depth understanding of heat transfer and flow profile within the firebrand pile. Modeling the firebrand pile as a fibrous porous medium, this study identified a porosity-permeability correlation that accurately describes the transport properties of a firebrand pile. The conduction-based model and Kozeny-Carman model were identified and examined by experiment, where firebrand porosity and permeability were collected with a wind tunnel. The conduction-based model was more stable and more accurate in the porosity range of interest. Pore network models were developed for the simulation of flow profiles utilizing the permeability data collected. The non-uniform network, which better represents a randomly stack firebrand pile, resulted in a more complex multidimensional flow within the pile.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Mechanical Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Mechanical Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2023

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Wu, Ditong
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Lattimer, Brian Y.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Meadows, Joseph
  • Palmore, John A.

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:39203
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/117264

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Wu, Ditong. Predicting Flow in Firebrand Pile using Pore Network Model. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2023. https://hdl.handle.net/10919/117264