This project is about the numerical modeling of firebrand showers in wildfire simulations.

• Problem: Firebrands can spread wildfire through the ignition of spot fires, yet there is a gap in knowledge on where they will land due to turbulent wind 

• Solution: Model high-resolution turbulent boundary layers at various turbulence intensities, and release firebrands in those domains to study the effect of small-scale turbulence 

• Results: Novel implementation of firebrand transport model coupled with wildfire simulation WRF-SFIRE for comparison between large-scale and small-scale transport

Experimental data has shown that firebrands are made of 3 basic shapes: compact, plate, and rod. Studies have shown that particles of different shapes have different flight trajectories. And in the wildfire research community, these difference have not yet been fully explored.

Modern wildfire simulations use large grid sizes in their computational meshes (around 250-300 m). This leads to only large-scale turbulence seen in the flow. Understanding the transport of plate and rod shapes in small-scale turbulence is crucial for understanding large-scale transport in wildfire simulations. With this knowledge, researchers will better understand how spot fires are generated.

Climate change is a major issue in our society today and wildfires are a growing problem across the world. Completing my project will help push our understanding of how wildfires spread, and help create better fire models. And this could help firefighters and emergency personnel stop wildfire spread and save lives.