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Search Publications by: Ryan Falkenstein-Smith (Fed)

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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23

A Photoacoustic Technique for Measuring Soot Deposition on Surfaces

March 13, 2024
Author(s)
Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, Amy Mensch
This study investigates a soot deposition measurement technique that relies on the photoacoustic effect of soot. A non-invasive and reliable soot deposition measurement tool would be helpful for fire investigators to quantify burn patterns in a fire scene

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Firefighter Turnout Gear Textiles Exposed to Abrasion, Elevated Temperature, Laundering, or Weathering

January 16, 2024
Author(s)
Andrew Maizel, Andre Thompson, Meghanne Tighe, Samuel Escobar Veras, Alix Rodowa, Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, Bruce A. Benner Jr., Kathleen Hoffman, Michelle K. Donnelly, Olivia Hernandez, Nadine Wetzler, Trung Ngu, Jessica Reiner, Benjamin Place, John Kucklick, Kate Rimmer, Rick D. Davis
Textiles used in the construction of structural firefighter turnout gear jackets and pants have been found to contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as well as fluoropolymer membranes and treatments containing fluorinated polymers. Additionally

Report on High Energy Arcing Fault Experiments: Experimental Results from Medium-Voltage Bus Duct and Switchgear Enclosures

September 15, 2023
Author(s)
Gabriel Taylor, Anthony D. Putorti Jr., Scott Bareham, Christopher U. Brown, Wai Cheong Tam, Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, Stephen Fink, Michael Heck, Edward Hnetkovsky, Nicholas Melly, Kenneth Hamburger, Kenneth Miller
This report documents an experimental program designed to investigate high energy arcing fault (HEAF) phenomena for medium-voltage, metal-enclosed bus ducts and switchgear. This report covers full-scale laboratory experiments using representative nuclear

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in New Firefighter Turnout Gear Textiles

May 1, 2023
Author(s)
Andrew Maizel, Andre Thompson, Meghanne Tighe, Samuel Escobar Veras, Alix Rodowa, Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, Bruce A. Benner Jr., Kathleen Hoffman, Michelle K. Donnelly, Olivia Hernandez, Nadine Wetzler, Trung Ngu, Jessica Reiner, Benjamin Place, John Kucklick, Kate Rimmer, Rick D. Davis
Turnout gear is increasingly recognized as a potential source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure to firefighters. To determine the type, concentration, and prevalence of PFAS potentially present in new firefighter turnout gear, fifty

Examining the effectiveness of water suppression for mitigating backdrafts

March 19, 2023
Author(s)
Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, Thomas Cleary
An analysis of the backdraft phenomenon's mitigation from water suppression is con- ducted in a 2/5th scale compartment. Different volumes of water were introduced via a ceiling- mounted misting nozzle into the compartment, which hosted conditions

A binary logistic regression model to evaluate backdraft phenomenon

September 30, 2022
Author(s)
Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, Thomas Cleary
A technique to predict backdraft phenomenon using a binary logistic regression model is presented. The model is established from time-averaged temperature, global and local equivalence ratios, and oxygen concentration measurements obtained in a series of

Characterization of backdrafts generated from methane fires

March 10, 2022
Author(s)
Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, Christopher U. Brown, Thomas Cleary
An analysis of oxygen concentration measurements is conducted to investigate compartment ventilation before a potential backdraft phenomenon. Experiments are performed in a 2/5th scale compartment of varying configurations such as fuel flow time, spark

The Design and Performance of a Second-Generation Phi Meter

January 5, 2022
Author(s)
Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, Thomas Cleary
This report documents the design and performance of a second-generation phi meter used in multi-scale experimental applications. A constructed second-generation phi meter is implemented in bench and 2/5th scale experiments to demonstrate the instrument's

The Structure of Medium-Scale Pool Fires

January 5, 2022
Author(s)
Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, Kunhyuk Sung, Jian Chen, Kimberly Harris, Anthony Hamins
This report documents a series of time-averaged gas species measurements made along the centerline of methanol, ethanol, acetone, methane, and propane pool fires steadily burning in a quiescent environment. All gas species measurements are obtained using a

The structure of medium-scale propane pool fires

September 23, 2021
Author(s)
Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, Kunhyuk Sung, Anthony Hamins
A series of time-averaged temperature, velocity, and gas species measurements are made along the centerline of propane fires established on a 37 cm diameter gas burner situated in a quiescent environment. Fires with heat release rates of 20 kW and 34 kW

Velocity and Temperature Structure of Medium-Scale Pool Fires

June 22, 2021
Author(s)
Kunhyuk Sung, Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, Anthony Hamins
A series of measurements was conducted using a bidirectional probe to characterize the upward speed in the plumes of medium-scale pool fires burning a variety of gaseous and liquid fuels. Time-averaged local measurements of the upward velocity were

Mixture Fraction Analysis of Combustion Products in Medium-Scale Pool Fires

November 13, 2020
Author(s)
Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, Kunhyuk Sung, Jian Chen, Anthony Hamins
A mixture fraction analysis is performed to investigate the characteristics of time-averaged gaseous species measurements made along the centerline of medium-scale pool fires steadily burning in a quiescent environment. A series of fire experiments are

Assessing Fire Smoke to Predict Backdraft and Smoke Explosion Potential

June 3, 2020
Author(s)
Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, Thomas Cleary
The Fire Research Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology is investigating the ability to forecast backdraft or smoke explosions during a fire event using a phi meter. Compared to other gas sensors, a phi meter can measure the global

Chemical Structure of Medium-Scale Liquid Pool Fires

May 14, 2020
Author(s)
Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, Kunhyuk Sung, Jian Chen, Anthony Hamins
This work documents a series of time-averaged local gas species measurements made throughout the centerline profile of 30 cm methanol, ethanol, and acetone pool fires steadily burning in a quiescent environment. All gas species measurements were obtained

Determining Flow Resistance through Vegetation Canopy

May 2, 2020
Author(s)
Ryan L. Falkenstein-Smith, Kevin B. McGrattan
This study documents the measurement of the wind resistance of different types of vegetation. The measurements are made in a wind tunnel with a 2.0 m test section and 0.5 m by 0.5 m cross- section. Samples of vegetation have been cut into cubical volumes

The Chemical Structure of a 30 cm Methanol Pool Fire

April 25, 2020
Author(s)
Ryan Falkenstein-Smith, Kunhyuk Sung, Jian Chen, Anthony Hamins
This study documents a series of time-averaged gas species measurements made along the centerline of a 30 cm methanol pool fires steadily burning in a quiescent environment. All gas species measurements are obtained using a Gas Chromatograph/ Mass

The Structure of Medium-Scale Pool Fires

February 19, 2020
Author(s)
Ryan L. Falkenstein-Smith, Kunhyuk Sung, Jian Chen, Kimberly J. Harris, Anthony P. Hamins
This report documents a series of time-averaged gas species measurements made along the centerline of methanol, ethanol, and acetone pool fires steadily burning in a quiescent environment. All gas species measurements are obtained using a Gas Chromatograph