Resources
The tools and equipment powering the performance-based method
Moyens
Software
A shared platform: FluidAlp-xD
FluidAlp maintains a broad range of software tools and develops its own. These are integrated into a common platform (FluidAlp-xD), which allows components to be programmed once and reused across different modules.
3D computational codes
FluidAlp uses two 3D codes:
Phoenics — general-purpose 3D CFD code developed by Cham (UK).
FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator) — 3D fire simulation code developed by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA).
FDS is used in design studies to qualify the level of performance achieved and adjust corrections when needed.
Phoenics is used for local problems where flow characterisation matters, and in research work.
1D computational codes
These tools are developed by FluidAlp in collaboration with the University of Marseille. The FluidAlp-1D module handles the following configurations:
Single tunnel
Complex ventilation system, fire and heat transfer through walls (solvers: finite volumes and semi-analytical).
Meshed network
Mechanical ventilation system with natural ventilation effects (solvers: Hardy Cross and implicit Newton-Raphson).
FluidAlp-1D also includes a pressure-loss coefficient tool using the Idel'Cik and Boussicaud databases, and integrates manufacturer data and in-situ measurements.
Evacuation models
The FluidAlp-xD platform includes an evacuation module modelling people moving through an environment progressively degraded by fire smoke. Thermochemical data are fed by 1D modelling or by 3D FDS models.
A Lagrangian version is under development.
Pre-processing
FDS modelling setup is handled by the FluidAlp-3D module integrated into the FluidAlp-xD platform. It supports programming of complex geometries, mesh setup, boundary conditions and source terms, and result export to TecPlot.
Post-processing
FluidAlp uses two data-presentation tools:
— TecPlot
— Paraview
Both allow rigorous and clear visualisation of computational results.
Moyens
Computing
Four compute machines for numerical simulation and post-processing
FluidAlp operates four compute machines:
- 1An AMD Ryzen 9 Threadripper machine — 24 physical / 48 virtual cores at 3.9 GHz, running Windows.
- 2An Intel i9 machine — 16 cores at 3.3 GHz, running Windows.
- 3Two Intel i7 servers — 8 cores at 2.8–3.0 GHz, running Windows — dedicated to result capture, storage and post-processing.
These machines can be operated remotely via secure VPN links.
Moyens
Metrology
A complete fleet for on-site measurement campaigns
FluidAlp's metrology fleet consists of:
- Four portable Testo hot-wire anemometers, 0.3 – 30.0 m/s range.
- Eight Schiltknecht vane anemometers, 0.2 – 20.0 m/s range.
- Two Schiltknecht vane anemometers, 0.4 – 40.0 m/s range.
- Two Höntzsch vane anemometers, 0.4 – 40.0 m/s range.
- Six battery-powered ALMEMO data loggers, four acquisition channels each.
Measurement equipment is mounted on poles or photo tripods.
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