Effects of sample width on flame spread over horizontal charring solid surfaces on a plateau

Experiments were conducted on the Tibetan Plateau to investigate the effects of sample width （W） on flame spread over horizontal charring solid surfaces. The results show that the rate of spread is influenced by the combined effects of convection heat transfer and flame radiation. Moreover, two different regimes depending on sample width were found in flame spread behavior. The rate of spread decreased with width in the convective regime （W≤3 cm） but increased in the radiative regime （W〉3 cm）. Similar results were observed in comparative experiments conducted on a plain in Hefei, with the rate of spread reaching its minimum value at W=4 cm rather than 3 cm.