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Ignition of Mediterranean Fuel Beds by Several Types of Firebrands

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Abstract

An experimental laboratory study on the probability of ignition and ignition time delay of new fires for 11 pairs of burning embers and fuel beds of species common in Mediterranean forests is presented. For the no wind conditions of the present tests it was found that positive ignition was achieved only for embers with flaming combustion. Fuel bed moisture content was identified as a very important parameter to assess probability of ignition and ignition time delay. In the range of the present tests it was found that ignition depended more on fuel bed properties than on ember characteristics.

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Abbreviations

FBMC:

Fuel bed moisture content (%)

FMC:

Fuel moisture content (%)

FC:

Flaming combustion

GC:

Glowing combustion

fEB:

Flat Eucalyptus globulus barks

cEB:

Curled Eucalyptus globulus barks

PPC:

Pinus pinaster cones

PHC:

Pinus halepensis cones

Str:

Straw

hay:

Hay

dEL:

Dead Eucalyptus globulus leaves

ELa:

Live Eucalyptus globulus leaves

dPPN:

Dead Pinus pinaster needles

dPHN:

Dead Pinus halepensis needles

ign:

Acronym for ignition occurrence

no ign:

Acronym for no ignition occurrence

horiz:

Acronym for landing of pine cone with the petiole facing the fuel bed

p.down:

Acronym for landing of pine cone in a horizontal position

L:

Average length of fire brand (mm)

W:

Average width of fire brand (mm)

t:

Average thickness of fire brand (mm)

m:

Average mass of fire brand (g)

D:

Average diameter of fire brand (mm)

Density in dry basis:

Density in dry basis of fuel bed (g cm−3)

Surface to volume ratio:

Surface-volume ratio of fuel bed particles (cm−1)

σ :

Standard deviation

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Acknowledgments

The support provided to the present research by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia through Projects SPOTFIRE (PTDC/EME-MFE/73765/2006) and EXTREME (PTDC/ME-MFE/114343/2009) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ADAI/LAETA, Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Aerodinâmica Industrial, Rua Pedro Hispano, 12, 3030-289, Coimbra, Portugal

    D. X. Viegas, M. Almeida, J. Raposo, R. Oliveira & C. X. Viegas

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Luís Reis dos Santos, 3030-788, Coimbra, Portugal

    D. X. Viegas

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  1. D. X. Viegas
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  2. M. Almeida
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Correspondence to D. X. Viegas.

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Viegas, D.X., Almeida, M., Raposo, J. et al. Ignition of Mediterranean Fuel Beds by Several Types of Firebrands. Fire Technol 50, 61–77 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-012-0267-8

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