Effect of Opening Positions on Fire Evolution in High-Speed Train Carriages

doi:10.12141/j.issn.1000-565X.240349

Abstract

Abstract:

During a fire in a high-speed train carriage, window breakage can create lateral openings, significantly affecting combustion behavior and temperature distribution. This study employed a combination of 1∶8 scaled model experiments and numerical simulations to investigate the influence of different opening positions on fire evolution inside the carriage. Additionally, it quantitatively analyzes the combined effects of opening position and heat release rate on flame propagation speed and longitudinal temperature attenuation. The results show that, for all opening positions, as the heat release rate increases, fire evolution and smoke/flame behavior at the openings undergo three distinct stages: (1) a fully developed combustion stage, (2) an oxygen-deficient combustion stage, and (3) a continuous overflow stage. The maximum internal temperature exhibits three trends with increasing heat release rate: an initial rise, followed by a gradual decline, and finally a sharp decrease, corresponding directly to fire development patterns within the carriage. The study further examines the effects of heat release rate and opening position on flame propagation speed and proposes a predictive formula for flame movement. The findings show that when the heat release rate is 50.80 kW, the opening position has minimal impact on flame propagation speed. However, when the heat release rate exceeds 50.80 kW, flame speed at opening position 2-4 decreases as the distance between the opening and the fire source increases, while opening position 1 exhibits the slowest flame propagation. Additionally, the study analyzed the maximum internal temperature and the temperature attenuation patterns on both sides of the openings, and established a predictive model for temperature attenuation at different opening positions in high-speed train carriage fires. The research findings provide valuable insights for fire prevention and mitigation strategies in high-speed train carriages.

Key words: high-speed train fires, flame evolution, spillover of opening fire, flame travel speed, opening position, fire source power, temperature distribution

CLC Number:

U298.4

ZHOU Zhihan, XI Yanhong, MAO Jun, YU Guilan. Effect of Opening Positions on Fire Evolution in High-Speed Train Carriages[J]. Journal of South China University of Technology(Natural Science Edition), 2025, 53(7): 116-125.

Figures/Tables 20

Table 1

Similar relationship of different variables in fire"

变量	换算关系
流速v	$v M = v F l M 1) l F 1 / 2$
温度 $T$	$T M = T F$
时间 $t$	$t M = t F l M l F 1 / 2$
火源热释放速率 $Q$	$Q M = Q F l M l F 5 / 2$

Table 1

Fig.1

Fig.2

Table2

Fig.3

Fig.4

Fig.5

Fig.6

Fig.7

Fig.8

Fig.9

Fig.10

Fig.11

Fig.12

Fig.13

Fig.14

Fig.15

Fig.16

Fig.17

Fig.18

References 18

[1]	QUINTIERE J G.， RINKINEN W J， JONES W W ．The effect of room openings on fire flume entrainment［J］．Combustion Science and Technology，1981，26（5/6）：193-201.
[2]	LEE Y P， DELICHATSIOS M A， SILCOCK G W H ．Heat fluxes and flame heights in façades from fires in enclosures of varying geometry［J］．Proceedings of the Combustion Institute，2007，31（2）：2521-2528.
[3]	REN F， HU L， ZHANG X，et al ．Temperature evolution from stratified- to well-mixed condition inside a fire compartment with an opening subjected to external wind［J］．Proceedings of the Combustion Institute，2021，38（3）：4495-4503.
[4]	SUN X， HU L， ZHANG X，et al ．Experimental study of flame extinction with fuel diffusion combustion inside a wall-opening compartment under reduced ventilation conditions［J］．Fuel，2021，289：119781/1-11.
[5]	INGASON H ．Model scale railcar fire tests［J］．Fire Safety Journal，2007，42（4）：271-282.
[6]	NG Y W， CHOW W K， CHENG C H，et al ．Scale modeling study on flame colour in a ventilation-limited train car pool fire［J］．Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology，2019，85：375-391.
[7]	高子鹤．隧道内受限火羽流行为特征及竖井自然排烟机理研究［D］．合肥：中国科学技术大学，2016.
[8]	FAN C G， JI J， GAO Z H，et al ．Experimental study on transverse smoke temperature distribution in road tunnel fires［J］．Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology，2013，37：89-95.
[9]	TAGAWA M， OHTA Y ．Two-thermocouple probe for fluctuating temperature measurement in combustion—rational estimation of mean and fluctuating time constants［J］．Combustion and Flame，1997，109（4）：549-560.
[10]	BROHEZ S， DELVOSALLE C， MARLAIR G ．A two-thermocouples probe for radiation corrections of measured temperatures in compartment fires［J］．Fire Safety Journal，2004，39（5）：399-411.
[11]	XI Y， ZHOU Z， LIAN H，et al ．Temperature variation inside a corridor-like enclosure under limited ventilation［J］．Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology，2022，126：104539/1-14.
[12]	XI Y， ZHOU Z， MAO J，et al ．Maximum ceiling temperature and longitudinal distribution in a corridor-like enclosure with opening［J］．Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology，2023，134：104994/1-11.
[13]	郗艳红，渠述强，毛军，等．隧道列车火灾玻璃破裂开口火溢流行为特性研究［J］．华南理工大学学报（自然科学版），2021，49（5）：56-64.
	XI Yanhong， QU Shuqiang， MAO Jun，et al ．Research on behavior characteristics of flame ejected from broken glass in tunnel train fire accident［J］．Journal of South China University of Technology （Natural Science Edition），2021，49（5）：56-64.
[14]	SINGH A V， GOLLNER M J ．A methodology for estimation of local heat fluxes in steady laminar boundary layer diffusion flames［J］．Combustion and Flame，2015，162（5）：2214-2230.
[15]	CONG W， SHI L， SHI Z，et al ．Numerical study on the ceiling gas temperature in a subway train with different fire locations［J］．Building Simulation，2022，15（4）：549-560.
[16]	INGASON H， LI Y Z ．Model scale tunnel fire tests with longitudinal ventilation［J］．Fire Safety Journal，2010，45（6）：371-384.
[17]	CONG W， HE K， YANG H，et al ．Experimental study on temperature characteristics in a subway train carriage with lateral openings in a longitudinally ventilated tunnel［J］．Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology，2023，131：104814/1-12.
[18]	从伟．地铁隧道/列车双狭长受限空间火灾烟气蔓延与特征参数演化规律［D］．合肥：中国科学技术大学，2023.