Analyzing and Exploiting Numerical Characteristics of Zone Fire Models (NISTIR 4763)

Published

March 1, 1992

Author(s)

Glenn P. Forney, W F. Moss

Abstract

In order to design robust and stable zone fire modeling algorithms, the numerical properties of computer arithmetic and modeling differential equations must be understood. This report examines some of these properties and provides tools for their analysis. Many sets of different equations for zone fire modeling can be derived using the conservation of mass and energy. A comparison between various possible formulations is made in terms of numerical properties. One property that many formulations possess is the presence of multiple time scales. Pressures equilibrate much faster than other quantities such as density and temperature. Numerically, this property is known as stiffness. Stiffness, in the context of fire modeling, and numerical methods for handling it are discussed.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 4763

Report Number

4763

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.4763

Keywords

zone models, fire models, computer models, numerical analysis

Citation

Forney, G. and Moss, W. (1992), Analyzing and Exploiting Numerical Characteristics of Zone Fire Models (NISTIR 4763), NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.4763 (Accessed March 13, 2025)