- Author
- Vedha-Nayagam, M. | Altenkirch, R. A.
- Title
- Gravitational Effects on Flames Spreading Over Thick Solid Surfaces.
- Coporate
- Kentucky Univ., Lexington
- Journal
- Acta Astronauticia, Vol. 12, No. 7-8, 565-572, July/August 1985
- Keywords
- solid surfaces | gravitational effects | flame spread | oxygen concentration
- Identifiers
- microgravity
- Abstract
- A theoretical model for the downward spread of a flame in the gas over a semiinfinitly thick fuel bed is presented. Gas-phase chemistry is assumed to proceed at an infinite rate, while the fuel is taken to pyrolyze at the surface in an Arrhenius fashion. Spread rates and flame shapes are computed for different ambient oxygen concentrations for gravitational accelerations both below and above that of the Earth. Predicted spread rates decrease and actual flame size increase with decreasing gravity. Results agree favorably with available, experimental results and expected results from reduced-gravity experimentation.