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Description
Properly understanding a fire and its spreading mechanisms relies on a comparison of theory and experiment. Theoretical models can range from simple and one-dimensional to more complex two-dimensional situations with the incorporation of additional boundary conditions and physics. To test our understanding of theory, it is necessary that a flame’s burning velocity or spread rate matches, in real life, to what is predicted by mathematical solutions and computational models. The burning velocity of a flame incorporates many variables and elements in its ignition and propagation. These include the nature of the fuel, the vaporization temperature, the heat of reaction of the products of combustion, as well as the magnitude of the various forms of heat transfer involved between the unburnt fuel, the burning fuel, and the combustive gas. It is for this reason that quantification of a spread rate symbolizes a thorough understanding of the physics of a flame and the nature of the variables involved. Proper measurement of the flame speed in a series of images set in time using a MATLAB-based program known as Flame Analyzer could facilitate this understanding, specifically by tracking its leading edge. Such an understanding would enhance our knowledge of theoretical models and the actual behavior of a conflagration that poses a threat to the individuals that find themselves in its path. In addition, three different methods will be presented for tracking the flame, as well a as a fourth that relies on information from two of the previous three. A collection of functions was created and will be discussed that facilitated the operation of these algorithms, as well as serving as a foundation for the development of future methods to track flames.
