Exploring how aerodynamic characteristics impact the trajectory of embers during long-range ember transport

Description:

Burning embers spread fires by igniting spot fires ahead of the firefront, causing significant damage to structures. Understanding ember movement is crucial for damage mitigation, but it's complex to predict. This study will use more realistic computational fluid dynamics techniques to investigate the ember transport characteristics under various conditions 

The trajectories of ember particles are subject to a multitude of influencing factors. Key determinants of ember transport include ember particle shape, fuel type, fire intensity, wind conditions, turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer, topographical location, and burning characteristics. However, many studies have focused on only a subset of these factors. Early research on embers primarily aimed to develop analytical and experimental models to predict maximum spotting distance and lofting height, often relying on simplistic terminal velocity assumptions. Furthermore, the crucial effects of flow turbulence and ember particle rotation have largely been overlooked. 

This project will address these limitations by prioritising the development of highly realistic computational models for precise analysis of ember trajectories using computational fluid dynamics. Our approach encompasses a comprehensive consideration of key factors including turbulence, ember shape, plume intensity, wind conditions, and various forest types with re-lofting dynamics. The specific objectives of the project are as follows: 

1. To develop highly realistic computational models for analyzing ember trajectories using computational fluid dynamics. 
2. To investigate the influence of key factors such as turbulence, ember shape, plume intensity, wind conditions, and forest types on ember transport characteristics.
3. To enhance understanding of ember movement dynamics to improve wildfire damage mitigation strategies.