Abstract:

Combustion properties of litter of Schima superba, Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata with different water contents were tested with a cone calorimeter. The water contents were set as 10％, 15％, 20％, 25％, and 30％. The different water contents in the litter were obtained by accurately adding water into the absolutely dried litter. The leaves and small branches of litter was subjected to the heat radiation respectively at 20 kW·m^-2and 30 kW·m^-2. The results showed that the igniting time(TTI) of Schima superba litter was shorter than that of Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata, when water content was less than 15%, which demonstrated that the litter of Schima superba with lower water content was more inflammable. However, when the Water Content was more than 20%, the igniting time of Schima superba litter was longer than that of Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata. The heat release rate(HRR) and total heat release(THR) of litter of Schima superba at the same condition were slower and less than that of Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata. The results demonstrated that Schima superba was suitable to be used as the fire breaks.

Key words: cone calorimeter, litter, water content, combustibility