This paper presents an approach using commercially available computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software combined with combustion and radiation models to predict the flow, temperature, and smoke concentration fields in the event of a fire—applied to a train fire scenario. This paper is not a validation but an outline of key aspects that need to be included in the modeling. The approach presented here can be used to predict fire growth and determine how long a fire would take to reach flashover. Although the results presented are for the first 120 seconds only, this short time is sufficient to illustrate the fire dynamics predicted using the approach presented here. A comparison with available experimental data for gasoline spills was made. Although used to predict a train fire, the approach can be used in any other space such as commercial buildings, hotel atria, and more.

Units: SI