ENME Webcast Fall 2006

Leaders in Mechanical Engineering Lecture Series

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Title: Simulation of Accidental Fire and Explosions: Transition to Physics-Based Predictive Models
Professor Adel Sarofim
University of Utah, College of Engineering

Original Air Date: Friday, December 8th at 2:00pm

Abstract: The evolution of the methods for predicting heat transfer from fires will be discussed, starting with the early recognition that radiation is the dominant mode of heat transfer from flames progressing to current efforts to develop science-based predictive models. The presentation will draw heavily on the efforts of the Center for the Simulation of Accidental Fires and Explosions (C-SAFE) at the University of Utah, one of five alliance partners set up by DOE?s Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) Program, a program set up in 1992 responsive to the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The C-SAFE goal is motivated by the need for a higher fidelity in heat transfer models when dealing with explosives as the magnitude of the explosion often increases with a reduction in heat flux (slow cook-off). The progress that has been made by an interdisciplinary team using teraflop computers to model the sequence of events from combustion of JP fuels, soot formation, heat transfer to containers, and the severity of the explosion of the contained high energy explosives will be presented. Impressively realistic reproduction of the fine features of the pulsating flames and their consequences have been obtained and have been used to come up with safer ways to transport explosives. However, much remains to be done in model validation and verification before the ultimate goal of achieving predictive models is achieved.