Estudo da propagação do fogo por meio da difusão em palitos de fósforos

Abstract

The study of fire behavior in fires is still incipient and modelling for that appears as an important tool for firefighter training practices, allowing a simulation of fire propagation scenarios as a function of environmental conditions. In this context, and assuming that our research is exploratory, descriptive and explanatory, as well as bibliographical, documentary and experimental (GIL, 2002), we seek to find some mathematical models that describe the phenomenon: forest fire. We know, by hypothesis, that there are many surrounding variables, which in some way makes mathematical models for this problem very complex. Thus, knowing the limitations imposed to try to replicate this problem, we performed an experiment with a set of matchsticks that tried to represent a problem situation with some variables being controlled. This work intended to answer the questions: Putting matchsticks interspersed in rows how will be the course in relation to the time if we light the matchstick that is at the center of our experience? From the mathematical models found in the literature, can the model we find for our experience be considered a reduction for models, given the variables used? In order to do so, the objective was to elaborate a mathematical model that described a fire propagation by means of the ignition of a set of matchsticks symbolizing a pine forest. From the obtained models and the comparisons, we consider that our models are suitable for the first minutes of the experiment.