Review of Computer Simulations Applicable to Vehicle Fire Investigation

In the automotive industry, the use of computer simulations is inevitable throughout the entire design and manufacturing process. With the help of simulations, costs can be significantly reduced; however, this requires accurate data and measurements in advance to ensure reliable results. In the currently evolving automotive sector, safety is being focused on severely, within safety one important aspect is vehicle-related fire incidents that pose serious safety risks. Fire simulations can provide valuable support in the investigation of such events. Unfortunately, in recent years, relatively few studies dealt with the modeling of vehicle fires, the numerical analysis of fire spread, or the applicability of various simulation methods. The aim of this study is to conduct a case study analysis of previously published vehicle fire simulations. During the study, we compared simulation results from several international sources, evaluated the input parameters used, and the practical applicability of the simulations. The aim of the analysis is to explore the strengths and limitations of different modeling approaches, which can contribute to the development of firefighting strategies and the improvement of vehicle fire safety.
Keywords: fire safety, FDS, vehicle fire, fire simulation