Combustion characteristics of non-charring polymer cylinders - experimental and numerical study

Polymeric fuels with a cylindrical shape are widely found as forest combustibles, building components, and electrical cables wires. Their flammability is commonly assessed using cone calorimetry, despite the fact that exposed heat flux well defined only for flat samples. This has led to great difficulties when trying use experimental data calibrating pyrolysis models, which often treat problem one-dimensional. study aims at increased understanding of combustion in calorimeter by carrying out experiments two-dimensional numerical simulations on black, 20 mm diameter Poly(methyl methacrylate) rods. The solid-phase transfer modeled rectilinear 1 mesh, reactive flow field solved LES single-step mixing-controlled reaction. model validated results gasification flaming one or five rods under 50kWm?2 irradiation. For single rod measurements, steep vertical shrinkage gasification, roughly equal horizontal degradation rates were observed. Degradation patterns consisted ?-shape trend ?-shape condition. reproduce these deformation trends favorable accuracy all cases. ignition delay time case was detected shorter than case, consistency available literature. allowed extraction comprehensive thermodynamic information surface With flaming, incident top sample 15 kWm?2. Flame-induced convective heating most significant sides outermost distribution peaks about 30 current framework can be basis extension modelling more complex material such thermal insulations.