Wildfire propagation modelling is a challenging problem due to its complex
multi-scale multi-physics nature. This process can be described by a reaction-
diffusion equation based on the energy balance principle. Alternative technique is the so-called
level-set method (LSM), used
in wildfire modelling as well as in many other fields. In the present study a
methodology for fire propagation modelling that reconciles these approaches
is proposed. This methodology is distinguishable and significant from both
academical and industrial point of view because of the inclusion of the ran-
dom effects by preserving the existing algorithms and direct implementation
as a post-processing numerical routine.
The random behaviour of the fire front is caused, for example, by the
turbulence and the fire-spotting phenomenon. A probability density function
(PDF) is employed in order to describe the random process. In earlier studies
it has been shown that new independent ignitions can increase the rate of
spread (ROS) of fire and therefore should be carefully studied. In this respect,
a physical parametrization of the fire-spotting distribution was proposed.
Special attention in the present study is paid to the atmospheric stability
conditions. The parametrization proposed in previous works is completed by the
multiple fire-spotting modelling. Afterwards special attention is paid to the
study of uniqueness of the PDF and consistency with the energy balance
equation. Numerical results and discussions complete the study.PhD grant ”La Caixa 2014
