A tilting wind tunnel for fire behavior studies

Abstract

The combined effects of wind velocity and slope on wildland fire behavior can be studied in the laboratory using a tilting wind tunnel. The tilting wind tunnel requires a commercially available fan to induce wind and can be positioned to simulate heading and backing fires spreading up and down slope. The tunnel is portable and can be disassembled for transport using a full-size pickup truck. Vertical velocity profiles indicate that the average turbulence level is about 15 percent of mean wind velocity.

Keywords

heading fire, backing fire

Citation

Weise, David R. 1994. A tilting wind tunnel for fire behavior studies. Res. Note PSW-RN-417. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 6 p