AdvancedCFDEngineering

Set Up a Fire Simulation in FDS

Define geometry, burners, ventilation and output devices for a compartment fire study.

Estimated completion: 90 min

Objective

Build a defensible FDS input file for a compartment fire and extract engineering outputs.

1
Define the domain and mesh
Size the domain to include the plume and openings, and choose cell size from the characteristic fire diameter.
2
Specify the fire source
Set the heat release rate curve and surface properties, and justify them against a recognised source.
3
Add ventilation
Define openings and mechanical ventilation explicitly; assumed leakage strongly affects the result.
4
Place devices
Add thermocouples, gas concentration and visibility devices at the locations required by the assessment criteria.
5
Run and review
Check the mesh resolution index, review Smokeview output and confirm the plume is resolved.

Time histories of temperature, visibility and gas concentration suitable for a life-safety assessment.

Problem	How to fix it
Plume looks blocky	Refine the mesh until the resolution index falls into the recommended range.
Results sensitive to domain size	Extend the domain beyond the openings and repeat.