Numerical study on smoke temperature distribution in naturally ventilated inclined tunnels: Effects of tunnel width and tunnel slope
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Inclined tunnel fires exhibit unique characteristics compared to horizontal tunnel fires as a result of the stack effect. This study numerically investigates the smoke temperature distribution in naturally ventilated inclined tunnel fires considering the variations in tunnel width and tunnel slope. The results indicate that the smoke back-layering length upstream of fire source and the temperature decay factor in the one-dimensional flow stage downstream of fire source exhibit significant segmented characteristics. The back-layering length first decreases and then remains constant as the tunnel slope increases, while the tunnel width is an insignificant influencing factor. However, the decay factor demonstrates two unique patterns that are associated with tunnel width. As the tunnel slope increases, the decay factor initially increases and then stabilizes when the tunnel has a wide width. However, it consistently drops when the tunnel width is narrow. Two empirical models are developed to identify the critical points of these segments and predict the dimensionless back-layering length and decay factor. These models are verified using the relevant data from existing literature. This work offers a reliable method for estimating smoke temperature distribution in inclined tunnels, providing crucial insights for fire prevention, smoke detection, and safety strategies in tunnel engineering.
Authors: Wei Cong, Shibin Nie, Xin Li, Wei Peng
Institution: Anhui University of Science and Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,210
OpenAlex ID: W4402909747