An Introduction To Fire Dynamics 3E

This book is unique in that it identifies fire science and fire dynamics and provides the scientific background necessary to the development of fire safety engineering as a professional discipline. It is essential reading for all involved in the field from fire safety engineering students to fire prevention officers.

• After 21 years as a bestseller, Dougal Drysdale's classic introduction has been brought up-to-date with the latest data and research in a third edition.
• Features numerical problems with answers illustrating the quantitative applications of the concepts presented.
• Includes quantitative experimental data regarding material properties.
• Successfully course-tested at Massachusetts' Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the University of Edinburgh, and widely adopted throughout the world.
• Of relevance to those working in building design, fire physics and chemistry.

Preface to the Second Edition

Preface to the Third Edition

List of Symbols and Abbreviations

1 Fire science and combustion
1.1 Fuels and the Combustion Process
1.2 The Physical Chemistry of Combustion in Fires
Problems

2 Heat transfer
2.1 Summary of the heat transfer equations
2.2 Conduction
2.3 Convection
2.4 Radiation
Problems

3 Limits of flammability and premixed flames
3.1 Limits of flammability
3.2 The structure of a premixed flame
3.3 Heat losses from premixed flames
3.4 Measurement of burning velocities
3.5 Variation of burning velocity with experimental parameters
3.6 The effect of turbulence
Problems

4 Diffusion flames and fire plumes
4.1 Laminar jet flames
4.2 Turbulent jet flames
4.3 Flames from natural fires
4.4 Some practical applications
Problems

5 Steady burning of liquids and solids
5.1 Burning of liquids
5.2 Burning of solids
Problems

6 Ignition: The initiation of flaming combustion
6.1 Ignition of flammable vapour/air mixtures
6.2 Ignition of liquids
6.3 Pilot ignition of solids
6.4 Spontaneous ignition of combustible solids
6.5 Surface ignition by flame impingement
6.6 Extinction of flame
Problems

7 Spread of flame
7.1 Flame spread over liquids
7.2 Flame spread over solids
7.3 Flame spread modelling
7.4 Spread of flame through open fuel beds
7.5 Applications
Problems

8 Spontaneous ignition within solids and smouldering combustion
8.1 Spontaneous ignition in bulk solids
8.2 Smouldering combustion
8.3 Glowing Combustion
Problems

9 The pre-flashover compartment fire
9.1 The growth period and the definition of flashover
9.2 Growth to flashover
Problems

10 The post-flashover compartment fire
10.1 Regimes of burning
10.2 Fully-developed fire behaviour
10.3 Temperatures achieved in fully-developed fires
10.4 Fire resistance and fire severity
10.5 Methods of calculating fire resistance
10.6 Projection of flames from burning compartments
10.7 Spread of fire from a compartment
Problems

11 Smoke: Its Formation, Composition and Movement
11.1 Formation and measurement of smoke
11.2 Smoke movement
11.3 Smoke control systems

References

Answers to Problems

Author Index

Subject Index