Backdraft occurs when a fire in a confined, oxygen-depleted space accumulates hot, unburned gases. The sudden introduction of fresh air—such as through a broken window or opened door—can trigger an explosive ignition. Such events are highly dangerous and can occur in residential fires, industrial enclosures, or vehicle compartments. This simulation demonstrates how structural failure can rapidly change fire behavior and escalate risks.
This project uses FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator) to model the combustion of methane in a closed room. The domain is initialized with unburned fuel particles, creating an oxygen-depleted environment as the fire develops. At t = 20 seconds, a window failure is introduced, allowing oxygen to enter. This sudden inflow triggers a backdraft—a rapid ignition of the accumulated hot gases.
The following video shows the backdraft of fire:-