Dr Albert Simeoni

• From: Corsica, France
• e-mail: A.Simeoni
• Qualifications:
  • HDR (qualification to supervise doctoral candidates), Energetic and Combustion, University of Corsica, 2008.
  • PhD, Energetic and thermal transfers, University of Corsica, 2000.
  • French Engineer Degree, Thermal Transfers, IUSTI, Marseille, 1996.
  • MPhil, Thermal Transfers and Combustion, University of Provence, 1996.
  • BSc. Applied Physics, University of Corsica, 1994.
• Affiliations: Member of the International Association of Fire Safety Science, the Combustion Institute, the Tomsk Scientific Society of Mechanics of Heat Physics and Risk Analysis (affiliated to the Russian Academy of Sciences) and the International Association of Wildland Fire.
• Position: Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh – Assistant Professor at the University of Corsica
• Visiting researcher from Université de Corse

Expertise:

• Numerical modelling at the laboratory scale: fire spread models (CFD models and simplified physical models), sub-models for gas-phase combustion.
• Laboratory experiments: fire spread through vegetal fuel beds, flame instrumentation and calorimetric tools (cone calorimeter and FPA)
• Field experiments: metrology of scientific fires and prescribed burnings.
• Field modelling: extreme fire behaviour (eruptive fires).

Current projects:

• PROTERINA-C: A system for the forecast and the prevention of the impact of the variability of the climatic conditions on the risk for the natural and urbanized environment.
  • Funded by the EU (2009-2011), “Obiettivo 3 Italia-Francia Marittimo” program.
  • Summary: PROTERINA-C will focus on issues linked to climatic change and its impacts on natural and anthropized environment, with special attention to hazard conditions induced by these changes. PROTERINA-C involves activities related to deepen the knowledge and to develop models for evaluating forest fires hazard in Liguria, Corsica and Sardinia, in connection to climate variability.
• Fire Paradox: An innovative and integrated approach to wildland management fire.
  • Funded by the EU (2007-2009): FP6-018505.
  • Summary: This project aims to reintroduce fire in the Mediterranean Ecosystem as its exclusion has lead to bigger fires in terms of size and impact. Inside this project, BRE conducts a calorimetric study of different vegetation types in order to characterize them as fuels for wildland fires and prescribed burnings.
• ARPR (Regional Project – Corsica): An innovative and integrated approach to wildland management fire
  • Funded by the Regional Council (2006-2009): 07-CPER-157-01.
  • Summary: The aim of this project is twofold. On one hand, laboratory and field experiments are conducted to develop management tools in order to help fire fighters and forest managers to take decisions. On the other hand, human aspects in wild fires are studied under historical, sociological, anthropological and juridical topics.
• PHC “Pessoa” (France, University of Corsica – Portugal, University of Coimbra): Experimental and numerical study of eruptive fires
  • Funded by the Foreign Affairs French Ministry (2009-2010): 20054PA.
  • Summary: This project aims to better understand fire eruptions. This extreme fire behaviour corresponds to the changing of a classical fire spread in a “high velocity” fire (spreading at velocities higher than 20 km/h) in canyons and valleys. To proceed, experiments will be conducted and a numerical model will be developed.

Other research interests

• Smouldering fires: peat and humus fires
• Calorimetry principles

Previous research projects

• European projects:
  • EuFire Star: A decision support system for fuel management and fire hazard reduction in Mediterranean wildland-urban interfaces (2002-2005), EVG1-CT-2001-00041.
  • EUFireLab: Euro-Mediterranean Wildland Fire Laboratory, a "Wall-Less" Laboratory for Wildland Fire Sciences and Technologies in the Euro-Mediterranean Region (2002-2006), EVR1-CT-2002-40028.
• International project:
  • PHC “Alliance” (France, University of Corsica – UK, University of Edinburgh): Interaction between fuel and combustion in natural fires (2007-2008), 15025TA.
• National project:
  • GIP ANR (France): Fire spread and fire-fighting modelling (2006-2009), NT05-2_44411.

Links

• University of Corsica web page (www.univ-corse.fr)
• CNRS SPE laboratory web page (spe.univ-corse.fr)
• “Forest fires” research team in Corsica (http://spe.univ-corse.fr/expe_feux/VERS_ANGLAIS/SITE%20PLATEFORME%20ENGLISH/debut.htm)

Selected Publications

• A. Simeoni, P.A. Santoni, M. Larini, J.H. Balbi. Proposal for theoretical contribution for improvement of semi-physical forest fire spread models thanks to a multiphase approach: application to a fire spread model across a fuel bed. Combustion Science and Technology, 2001, 162:59-84.
• A. Simeoni, P.A. Santoni, M. Larini, J.H. Balbi. Reduction of a multiphase formulation to include a simplified flow in a semi-physical model of fire spread across a fuel bed. International Journal of Thermal Science, 2003, 42:95-105.
• T. Marcelli, P.A. Santoni, A. Simeoni, E. Leoni, B. Porterie. Fire spread across pine needle fuel beds: characterisation of temperature and velocity distributions within the fire plume. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 2004, 13:37-48.
• F. Morandini, A. Simeoni, P.A. Santoni, J.H. Balbi. A model for the spread of fire across a fuel bed incorporating the effects of wind and slope. Combustion Science and Technology, 2005, 177:1381-1418.
• P.A. Santoni, A. Simeoni, J.L. Rossi, F. Bosseur, F. Morandini, X. Silvani, J.H. Balbi, D. Cancelieri, L. Rossi. Instrumentation of wildland fire: characterisation of a fire spreading through a Mediterranean shrub. Fire Safety Journal, 2006, 41(3): 171-184.
• C. Schemel, A. Simeoni, H. Biteau, J. Riviera, J.L. Torero. A calorimetric study of wildland fuels. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 2008, 32(7): 1381-1389.
• V. Tihay, A. Simeoni, P.A. Santoni, J.P. Garo, J.P. Vantelon. A global model for the combustion of gas mixtures released from forest fuels. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 2009, 32(2): 2575-2582.
• G. Rein, S. Cohen, A. Simeoni. Carbon emissions from smouldering peat in shallow and strong fronts. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 2009, 32(2): 2489-2496.
• V. Tihay, P.A. Santoni, A. Simeoni, J.P. Garo, J.P. Vantelon. Skeletal and global mechanisms for the combustion of gases released by crushed forest fuels. Combustion and flame, 2009, to be published.
• A. Simeoni, J. Garcia, G. Rein. Description of subsurface fires and some experimental considerations on their dynamics. Russian Physics Journal, 2009, to be published.