Author
Masahiko Shinohara
Bio: Masahiko Shinohara is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Vortex & Fire whirl. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 6 publications receiving 70 citations.
Topics: Vortex, Fire whirl, Wind direction, Wind speed, RADIUS
Papers
More filters
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an integrated numerical simulator that makes possible the estimation of burn injuries originating from fire disasters. But the simulator is not suitable for the simulation of fire events.
60 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a fire spread experiment with 19 1/3-scale model houses aligned in a former quarry at Iwafune Mt. in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan was conducted.
14 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated whether stationary fire whirls just downwind of a meter-scale turbulent flame are the lowest part of the counter-rotating vortex pair (CVP) of the plume from the flame.
Abstract: Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine whether stationary fire whirls just downwind of a meter-scale turbulent flame are the lowest part of the counter-rotating vortex pair (CVP) of the plume from the flame. Plumes from a turbulent pool fire and air flow around the fire were visualized. There are two types of stationary fire whirls: those that contain flames (FWflame) and those that do not (FWair). We determined that FWairis most likely the lowest part of the CVP and that FWflame is most likely generated by flames entering the lowest part of the CVP, swirling and increasing in length. FWairs and FWflames form alternately at the same location just downwind of the fuel pools. During the period when stationary fire whirls occur, the plume tilt angle from the vertical direction is smaller, and the variation in the plume tilt angle and flame trailing length is greater compared to all other periods. Flow visualization also showed that the characteristic semi-circular space (SCS) partly surrounded by the flame trailing downwind from both edges of the fuel pools is generated by the swirling wind of FWairs inside the SCS.
6 citations
01 Jan 2007
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used particle image velocimetry (PIV) and a flow visualization technique to investigate the flow structure of fire-induced whirlwinds that occur downwind of a 90 cm-diameter methanol flame.
Abstract: The flow structure of fire-induced whirlwinds that occur downwind of a 90-cm-diameter methanol flame was investigated using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and a flow visualization technique. The PIV images showed that the whirlwinds occurred as counter-rotating vortices on both sides of a reverse flow downwind of the flame that moved toward it near the floor. The whirlwinds started near the floor and extended upwards, with a lower tangential velocity near the floor. The radius of the forced vortex region in the whirlwinds increased above a height of 11 cm. Whirlwinds downwind of the 90-cm-diameter methanol flame behaved the same as whirlwinds downwind of a 3-cm-diameter flame that were investigated in a previous study.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
4 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of the crosswind speed and heat release rate (HRR) on the circulation, size, and velocity of a fire whirl was investigated at HHRs of 0.06-0.54 m/s.
4 citations
Cited by
More filters
TL;DR: A brief review of the research and development in the field of thermal protection clothing is presented and it primarily focusses the studies dealing with the heat and mass transfer aspects in thermal protective clothing as discussed by the authors.
86 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a finite volume model was developed to simulate transient heat transfer in firefighters' protective clothing during flash fire exposure, which consists of three layers of fire-resistant fabrics (outer shell, moisture barrier, and thermal liner) with two air gaps between the clothing layers, the human skin, and the air gap between clothing and the skin.
Abstract: A finite volume model was developed to simulate transient heat transfer in firefighters' protective clothing during flash fire exposure. The model domain consists of three layers of fire-resistant fabrics (outer shell, moisture barrier, and thermal liner) with two air gaps between the clothing layers, the human skin, and the air gap between the clothing and the skin. The model accounts for the combined conduction-radiation heat transfer in the air gaps entrapped between the clothing layers, and between the clothing and the skin. The variation in the air gap properties and energy content during both the exposure and the cool down periods was accounted for. Predictions were obtained for the temperature and heat flux distributions in the fabric layers, skin, and air gaps as a function of time. The influence of each air gap on the clothing performance was investigated as well. This article demonstrates the importance of accurately modeling the contributions of the air gaps in order to predict the protective c...
63 citations
TL;DR: The accuracy and scope of the thermal models are improved, for the consideration of individual differences, integration to clothing models, exposure to cold and hot conditions, and the changes of physiological responses for the elders.
56 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a simulation of the human body wearing a running wear jacket with slits was performed to estimate the exchange of air (ventilation) and temperature distribution in the cylinder that simulated human body.
Abstract: This study was performed to estimate the exchange of air (ventilation) and temperature distribution in the cylinder that simulated human body. Simulation simplified the human body wearing the running wear jacket with slits. Slits were positioned at the shoulder, mid-back and lower-back. For the running wear jacket, non-air permeable material was assumed to eliminate the effect of porosity of the fabrics. Airflow and microclimate temperature were analyzed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The results showed that the air tended to rise and drift towards the slits. Air flown out through the slits was in the order of the lower-back slit > mid-back slit > shoulder slit. Discrepancy in the air flow rate at each slit was caused by the generation of ascending air currents according to slit positions. The direction of the air current depended on the microclimate temperature inside the jacket. These results indicate that the lower-back slit gives better air exchange effect which was in agreement with the clothing microclimate observed by human wear tests.
33 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a three dimensional finite volume model was developed to simulate the transient heat transfer through a flame manikin located in a combustion chamber with the advanced technique of computational fluid dynamics.
32 citations