- Author
- Lewis, B. | Von Elbe, G.
- Title
- Fundamental Principles of Flammability and Ignition.
- Coporate
- Combustion and Explosives Research Inc., Pittsburgh, PA
- Keywords
- flammability | ignition
- Abstract
- Despite intensive theoretical and experimental research on the combustion wave over the past decade, a universally accepted concept of the phenomenon has not been achieved. This is particularly true with respect to the non-steady state phenomena of limits of inflammability and ignition. It has been a frequent occurrence in theoretical work on the subject, whether dealing with the steady or non-steady state, that the mathematical development of an adopted model is followed by a descriptive summary of the results which, however, is rarely traced back clearly to the assumptions inherent in the model. This has often resulted in extravagent identification of the model wityh the actual phenomenon and has been an obstacle in the task of reconciling conflicting views. There is need, therefore, of a purely descriptive exposition, stripped as completely as possible of mathematical language, to clarify the physical concepts of the combustion wave phenomenon.