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Theoretical and Numerical Study of Smoke Back-Layering Length for an Inclined Tunnel Under Longitudinal Ventilation

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Abstract

Clarifying the smoke spread and temperature distribution pattern on both sides of the fire source is the key to fire rescue. However, the back-layering length characteristics of tunnel fire smoke under multi-factor influences of tunnel slope and ventilation velocity have still not been revealed. In this paper, the smoke back-layering lengths in uplink and downlink tunnels are presented theoretically from the perspective of smoke dynamics. Meanwhile, a series of tunnel fires simulated by FDS are carried out in a reduced scale model tunnel with the dimensions of 40 m (length) × 0.93 m (width) × 0.93 m (height). Four typical slopes of 0%, 1%, 2% and 3% and five longitudinal ventilation velocities of 0.33 m/s, 0.67 m/s, 1 m/s, 1.33 m/s and 1.67 m/s are considered to investigate the influences of tunnel slope and ventilation velocity on the temperature attenuation on both sides of fire source. The theoretical analysis gives relatively good consistency with numerical results. Finally, the analytical models of non-dimensional smoke back-layering length in the inclined tunnel are obtained based on the theoretical and numerical simulation results. This work provides a reference for the smoke control and fire rescue during the tunnel fire period.

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Acknowledgements

This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51974304), the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (Grant No. E2020402075), the State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Gas Geology and Gas Control (Henan Polytechnic University) (Grant No. WS2020A05), the Qing Lan Project of Jiangsu Province, and the 2022 Graduate Innovation Program of China University of Mining and Technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Fire Safety in Urban Underground Space, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Qing Li & Jianhong Kang

  2. School of Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Qing Li, Jianhong Kang & Yuntao Wu

  3. Yiliang Chihong Mining Co., Ltd, Zhaotong, 657000, China

    Jin Luo

  4. State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Gas Geology and Gas Control, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454003, China

    Jianhong Kang

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  1. Qing Li
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Correspondence to Jianhong Kang.

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Li, Q., Kang, J., Wu, Y. et al. Theoretical and Numerical Study of Smoke Back-Layering Length for an Inclined Tunnel Under Longitudinal Ventilation. Fire Technol 58, 2143–2166 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-022-01250-1

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