The inhibiting effect of water spray on fire and smoke in longitudinally-ventilated tunnel

Fire Science and Technology ›› 2026, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (2): 73-78.

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The inhibiting effect of water spray on fire and smoke in longitudinally-ventilated tunnel

Liu Yuanjun¹, Gong Cheng², Tang Zhi^3,4, Gao Wenjie², Fang Zheng^3,4

(1. School of Safety Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou Jiangsu 213164, China; 2. Wuhan Bridge Construction Group Co., Ltd., Wuhan Hubei 430000, China; 3. School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan Hubei 430072, China; 4. Engineering Research Centre of Urban Disasters Prevention and Fire Rescue Technology of Hubei Province, Wuhan Hubei 430072, China)

Received:2025-03-19 Revised:2025-04-09 Online:2026-02-11 Published:2026-02-15

Abstract

Abstract: A series of reduced-scale tunnel fire tests were conducted to study the inhibiting effect of water spray on fire and smoke in longitudinally-ventilated tunnel. The influence of fire heat release rate, water spray flow rate and ventilation velocity were discussed. The results show that the water spray with a flow rate of 2.8 L/s and 5.8 L/s right above the fire source failed to extinguish a 3.6 MW fire, but reduced the required critical velocity by 50.0% and 66.7%, respectively. By analyzing the maximum temperature rise of ceiling smoke, it was found that water spray could enhance the cooling effect of longitudinal ventilation significantly, and the cooling effect is roughly linear with the spray flow rate.

Key words: fire protection, water spray, tunnel fire, fire smoke, longitudinal ventilation

Liu Yuanjun, Gong Cheng, Tang Zhi, Gao Wenjie, Fang Zheng. The inhibiting effect of water spray on fire and smoke in longitudinally-ventilated tunnel[J]. Fire Science and Technology, 2026, 45(2): 73-78.

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The inhibiting effect of water spray on fire and smoke in longitudinally-ventilated tunnel

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