Statistical Assessment of Parameters Affecting Firebrand Pile Heat Transfer to Surfaces

Firebrands are known to cause ignition of structures far from the primary fire front, resulting in significant damage before firefighting can be attempted. To make more resilient firebrand ignition, a better understanding heat transfer firebrands surfaces is needed. This paper provides statistical assessment different factors expected have an impact on flux piles flat surface. The included study were wood moisture content, type (hardwood or softwood), density, state (live, dead, artificial), wind speed, pile mass, diameter, and length. Using design experiments, test matrices developed that permitted analysis performed data. was used quantify which had statistically as well ranking importance factors. Artificial found higher fluxes compared with natural firebrands. Other length, length-diameter interaction. Firebrand aspect ratio (related interaction) directly related porosity, measure volume air pile. Increasing (which increases porosity) results across larger region important factor. diameter mass affect burning duration but not significantly other parameters. number also observed potentially flux, critical required reach highest for given geometry.