Numerical experiments - a research method in fire science

Abstract: Fires are complex and it is hard to derive relationships from theory in fire science. Full-scale and small-scale experiments have been used with great success in order to increase the understanding of fire chemistry and fire dynamics. But, there are shortcomings and difficulties with conducting these traditional fire experiments. In this thesis, numerical experiments are explored as a research method and put into the context of traditional compartment fire experiments. Both pros and cons of numerical experiments compared to traditional compartment fire experiments and prerequisites for numerical experiments are presented and summarised in the thesis. Numerical experiments are promising as a method in fire science research. However, it is currently not considered satisfying to solely use a numerical experiment to study a certain fire phenomena. The different experimental methods should not be regarded as competitive but as complementary, and a combination of traditional and numerical experimental methods are in many cases appropriate in order to analysis a certain fire phenomena.