Data-based mechanistic modelling approach to determine the age of air in a ventilated space

In literature, local mean age of air is used as an important index to evaluate indoor air quality in ventilated rooms. In this research, a data-based mechanistic approach is used to model the spatial–temporal mass distribution in an imperfectly mixed forced ventilated installation. A first-order transfer function model has proved to be sufficiently good in describing the mass transfer dynamics $(R_t^2=0.987)$ of the system. Furthermore, it was possible to fully understand the physical meaning of the model parameter. The parameter is found to be an inverse of the age of air. This Data-Based Modelling approach proved to be more robust when dealing with measurement noise. Finally, the modelled age of air was validated with a classical step up determination of the age of air for experimental data. Good correlation $(R_t^2=0.77)$ was found between both results, which proved the physical background of the model parameter.     

Scale model study of airflow performance in a ceiling slot-ventilated enclosure: Non-isothermal condition

Scale-model study of a non-isothermal ceiling slot-ventilated enclosure was investigated in both airspeed and thermal fields. Results of airflow pattern, centerline velocity and centerline temperature decay, velocity and temperature profile, airflow boundary layer and thermal boundary layer growth, floor velocity, and floor temperature difference were analyzed to establish semi-empirical prediction equations. Results also compared with previous researches to validate the physical behavior of air-jet. Data of centerline velocity decay showed similar airflow characteristics as isothermal air-jet with Archimedes number (Ar)<0.004$(\mathit{Ar})<0.004$, which performed as pseudo-isothermal airflow. Air-jet fell on entry with Ar>0.018$\mathit{Ar}>0.018$. A single circulation airflow existed at 0.004<Ar<0.011$0.004<\mathit{Ar}<0.011$ and two-circulation airflow occurred at 0.011<Ar<0.018$0.011<\mathit{Ar}<0.018$. The centerline velocity decay was fitted well as similar form of an isothermal condition. The centerline temperature decay was fitted well as the form of centerline velocity decay in both ceiling and floor regions. Both the velocity and temperature profiles agreed with results obtained from literature. Both airflow boundary layer and thermal boundary layer growths increased with traveling distance of air-jet. Maximum floor velocity and floor temperature difference were fitted well with different parameters. Analysis of airflow performance in a non-isothermal condition makes progress in predicting air quality inside the enclosures and guides the design concepts of ventilation system for an indoor environment.     

On the development and characterization of a firebrand generator

A unique experimental apparatus has been constructed in order to generate a controlled and repeatable size and mass distribution of glowing firebrands. The present study reports on a series of experiments conducted in order to characterize the performance of this firebrand generator. Firebrand generator characterization experiments were performed at the Fire Research Wind Tunnel Facility (FRWTF) at the Building Research Institute (BRI) in Tsukuba, Japan. The firebrand generator was fed with three different initial firebrand geometries, two different sized cylinders and one size of disks. Cylinders were used to simulate firebrand fluxes from vegetation, such as trees, while disks were used to simulate a firebrand flux from burning structures. Samples of these geometries were constructed from wood dowels, fed into the firebrand generator, ignited, and the glowing firebrands generated were collected using an array of water filled pans. The pans were filled with water in order to quench combustion. The collected firebrands were subsequently dried and the size and mass distribution was measured. These experiments were performed over a range of wind tunnel speeds, with no wind speed present to 9 m/s, to determine the lofting distance of the firebrands generated. Finally, the size and mass distribution produced from the firebrand generator are compared to those produced from burning trees. Results of the study are presented and discussed.     

Heat flux profile upon building facade with side walls due to window ejected fire plume: An experimental investigation and global correlation

This paper investigates the heat flux profile upon building facade with side wall constraints due to ejected fire plumes from a window of an under-ventilated compartment fire. A reduced-scale model (1:8), consisting of a cubic fire compartment with a facade wall attached and two side walls located symmetrically at both sides of the window is developed. The window dimensions and the side wall distances are changed in experiments, representing different ventilations and constraints on fire plume entrainment. Five heat flux gauges are employed in measurement of vertical heat flux profile upon the facade wall. Results show that with the decrease in separation distance of side walls, the heat flux increases for small windows where dimensionless excess heat release rate ${\dot{Q}}_{ex}^{⁎}\ge 1.3$ (“(half) axisymmetric fire” regime), meanwhile shows weak dependency on side wall separation distance for large windows where ${\dot{Q}}_{ex}^{⁎}<1.3$ (“wall fire” regime). A new global formula is proposed to characterize the vertical profile of heat flux based on Lee’s model without side walls as further modified by a parameter K in relation to the separation distance of side walls and characteristic length scales of the window. Experimental data for different windows and side wall separation distances are well collapsed by the proposed formula.     

Base flow and stormwater net fluxes of carbon and trace metals to the Mediterranean sea by an urbanized small river

Base flow and storm flow events from a small, urbanized Mediterranean river located in the South of France were studied to evaluate net fluxes from the continent to the coastal sea water. Considered variables were: pH, conductivity, redox potential, temperature, dissolved O₂, SPM (Suspended Particulate Matter), Cl^?, ${\text{NO}}_3^{?}$, ${\text{SO}}_4^{2?}$, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon), Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in the dissolved fraction and POC (Particulate Organic Carbon), Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in the particulate fraction. If rainfall intensity and antecedent rainfall history were sufficient to explain many observed variations, the patterns of particles and solutes transport greatly varied from one storm event to another. SPM, POC, particulate Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb had similar behavior characterized by an immediate increase at the beginning of the storm flow and the highest values at the first high discharge peak. Among dissolved species, Cl^?, ${\text{SO}}_4^{2?}$, Na⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ had a behavior very similar one to the other. They exhibited high concentrations and enrichment factors at the beginning of the storm flow, due to fast leaching of highly labile species. Their concentrations decreased during posterior discharge peaks but positive enrichment factors indicated permanent sources for these ions. DOC, K⁺ and ${\text{NO}}_3^{?}$ had different behaviors which indicated sources positively correlated with rainfall intensity. A 3D-fluorescence study showed that the humified organic matter contribution to DOC increased during storm flow. Relationships between DOC and dissolved Cu and Pb indicated differences in organic-matter binding properties between dry and humid periods. Storm flow were responsible for more than 90% of the annual output to the sea of SPM, POC and particulate Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb and more than 70% for dissolved Pb, Cd, ${\text{NO}}_3^{?}$ and DOC. For the other dissolved species, outputs were balanced between base flow and storm flow. Contrary to what was observed in large rivers, organic carbon was mainly transported in the POC fraction. The average specific fluxes of Cu and Pb to the sea were 3.8 and 3.4 kg km^?2 y^?1, respectively, of the same order of magnitude than specific fluxes of other North-Mediterranean rivers, but outputs were more intense during shorter durations. The extrapolation of the Eygoutier River data to the Mediterranean non-desert coastline showed that the order of magnitude of Cu and Pb annually brought to the sea by the whole of small anthropized coastal rivers can be similar to the annual input by the Rhône or the Po River.     

Triaxial shear behavior of a cement-treated sandegravel mixture

A number of parameters, e.g. cement content, cement type, relative density, and grain size distribution,can influence the mechanical behaviors of cemented soils. In the present study, a series of conventionaltriaxial compression tests were conducted on a cemented poorly graded sandegravel mixture containing30% gravel and 70% sand in both consolidated drained and undrained conditions. Portland cement usedas the cementing agent was added to the soil at 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% （dry weight） of sandegravel mixture.Samples were prepared at 70% relative density and tested at confining pressures of 50 kPa, 100 kPa, and150 kPa. Comparison of the results with other studies on well graded gravely sands indicated moredilation or negative pore pressure in poorly graded samples. Undrained failure envelopes determinedusing zero Skempton抯 pore pressure coefficient 餉 ？0？criterion were consistent with the drained ones.Energy absorption potential was higher in drained condition than undrained condition, suggesting thatmore energy was required to induce deformation in cemented soil under drained state. Energy absorptionincreased with increase in cement content under both drained and undrained conditions.
2014 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Production and hosting byElsevier B.V. All rights reserved.     

Window ejected flame width and depth evolution along facade from under-ventilated enclosure fires

This paper investigates window ejected flame width and depth evolutions along facade from under-ventilated enclosure fires. Experiments are carried out by 1:4 scale model. Two CCD cameras are employed to record the evolutions of flame depth and width. The flame base position (vertical height above the bottom of the opening), flame depth (width) along with their maximum values and corresponding positions (vertical height above the flame base position) are measured and analyzed by non-dimensional scaling. It is found that the flame base position is independent of fire heat release rate and its ratio to opening height is nearly the same. The flame depth for all heat release rates and the flame width for openings with aspect ratio in the range of $0.5\le W/H\le 1.5$ (the “(semi-) axi-symmetrical flame type”) first increases, reaching a maximum value and then decreases with height. However, for the opening with a relative larger aspect ratio ($W/H=2$) (“wall flame type”), the flame width decreases monotonously with height. The maximum flame width and its corresponding vertical position for “(semi-) axi-symmetrical flame type” are found to be well correlated by characteristic length scale ${\ell }_1$ [=${(A\sqrt{H})}^{2/5}$] non-dimensionally after normalized by the flame height. Meanwhile, the maximum flame depth for all conditions is found to be well correlated by characteristic length scale ${\ell }_2$ [=${(A{H}^2)}^{1/4}$] non-dimensionally after normalized by the flame height.