Failure analysis and correction models for upward flame characteristics subjected to shipping container fire

Failure and release of shipping chemical drums in dangerous goods container can result in spontaneous combustion, with a potential risk to escalate accidental events to catastrophes. The fire source and geometry of container openings are crucial factors deciding the potential of the ejected fires to trigger a series of domino effects. In this research, full scale simulations on ejected fires inside containers with changed container openings are carried out using FLACS, and the models are validated with previous experiment data. Six dimensions of container openings are established in comparative conditions between 1.2 × 2.6 m to 2.2 × 2.6 m, and four intensities of fire source are arranged in different accident scenarios. The purpose of this research is to reveal the effect of container openings on upward flame spread characteristics and high temperature profile in adjacent space between container groups. The results indicate that the maximum width of upward flame has a negative correlation with corresponding height, while there is a positive correlation between flame width and heat release rate. Meanwhile, the spread thickness of upward flame decreases with container opening widened, and the maximum shows an uptrend with fire source's heat release rate enhancement. The current research can be further extended to propose a correlation relationship to determine the maximum width and thickness of upward flame with their positions in shipping dangerous goods cargo fire involving container openings.