This paper reviews the mathematical and physical basis of field models used for fire and smoke movement prediction and their application to a number of experimental situations for which validation data are available. The models involve the numerical solution of basic equations governing three-dimensionaL steady, and transient flows with prescribed boundary conditions. The effect of turbulence, combustion, and radiation are included with various models.

The models predict the flow behavior quite well. Temperature and velocity distributions show very good agreement with data; gas concentrations are less well predicted. The generality of field models permits their use in large-scale situations where simple models might be inapplicable.