Abstract:

Research is generally dependent on education but vice versa, education is possible to do also without subsequent results and outcomes of research. In fact, at universities, many results and outputs of research are an integral part of the educational process. This paper describes an applied research project whose outputs will become part of the Tunnel Traffic & Operation Simulator (Simulator). This will greatly enhance the possibilities and quality of the educational process for our students and road tunnel operators. Education of students at the Simulator gives them a unique opportunity to learn basic principles of road tunnel operation that can be verified/tested directly by simulation of various emergency events. One of the most dangerous events in the tunnel is an uncontrollable spread of smoke and fire combustions. Students are encouraged to become aware an enormous importance of self-evacuation as the first phase of the emergency response to the fire in road tunnel. In regard to increasing number of road tunnels in Slovakia it is incomprehensible that the legislation does not mandate to driving schools the education and testing of beginners (drivers) e.g. from basic tunnel safety features or how to behave in tunnel. The project titled "Models of formation and spread of fire to increase safety of road tunnels" will be a significant contribution to increase safety of road tunnels using computer simulation of fire spread. Created real visualizations of the formation and spread of fire and smoke stratification for the virtual tunnel tube will be the benefit and novelty of this project compared to previously implemented projects of a similar type. These visualizations will be used as a didactic tool to show the most realistic spread of fire/smoke along the tunnel tube and to understand the impact of ventilation system on smoke stratification control.

Keywords:

Model, smoke, fire, simulator, tunnel, research, education.