Trial Graphics Trench Effect- Trial Graphics

Trench Effect (Trail Graphics)

The trench effect is a combination of circumstances that can cause a fire to climb rapidly up an inclined surface. It depends on two well-understood but separate ideas: the Coanda effect from fluid dynamics and the flashover concept from fire dynamics.
The Coanda effect is the tendency of a fast-moving stream of air to deflect towards nearby surfaces. The fast-moving stream tends to experience a decrease in static pressure, which creates a pressure difference between those areas far from the wall and the wall itself.

Flashover is a sudden broad spreading of fire, which occurs when the majority of surfaces in a space are heated to the point at which they give off flammable gases hot enough to ignite themselves. Prior to flashover, flammable gases may be given off but are not hot enough to ignite themselves.

The trench effect occurs when a fire burns next to a a surface that has a steep incline. The flames lie down across the inclined surface,  as described by the Coanda effect. The flames heat the surface along the length of the incline. These surfaces release gases, and as the reach their ignition point, they start burning. This is the flashover theory.

These flames, according to the Coanda effect, blow a blast of flames up to the end of the sloped surface. This blast of flames continues until the surface is entirely consumed.

King's Cross Investigation.

The Trench Effect has become well known as a result of the scientific and forensic investigation of the King's Cross fire. The fire started under an escalator between the Piccadilly Line platforms and the King's Cross St. ticket hall tube station.

According to eyewitness testimony, at the early stages of the fire under the escalator, it was small and very manageable. Fire Brigade officers testified that the fire appeared ti be about the size of a large box.

TMBA provided these accident recreations based on the investigation report from the London Fire Brigade for the series "Extreme Evidence" (Court TV).

For more information call (212) 789-9077

or go here- http://www.tmba.tv/trial-graphics/arson-investigation/london-underground/

Trial Graphics London Underground- Trial Graphics

TMBA created these trial graphics based on the investigation report from the London Fire Brigade for the series "Extreme Evidence" (Court TV).

A fire erupts in the Kings Cross Underground Station in London, England, 31 people are killed and dozens are injured. Arson investigators were able to pinpoint the cause of the fire, but it would take state-of-the-art computer technology and experts in the field of fluid dynamics to analyze accident recreations and trial graphics to explain why it became a deadly inferno.

The fire started on an escalator between the Piccadilly Line platforms and the ticket hall at King's Cross St. Pancras tube station. The evidence of many eyewitnesses indicated that at the early stages, the fire in the escalator was obviously of manageable size: officers from the Fire Brigade and British Transport Police gave evidence that the fire appeared no larger than a large cardboard box burning. Those present were all taken by surprise when it suddenly changed into something that threw a sustained jet of flame into the ticket hall.

What seems clear is that in the early stages of the fire, the flames visible to anyone not standing on the burning escalator were a small part of the full story. The majority of the flames were lying down in the escalator trench; only a few protruded above the balustrade and were visible to observers. The lack of visible flames lulled the emergency services into a false sense of security. When the treads of the escalator flashed over, the size of the fire increased dramatically and set most of the ticket hall alight.

Trial Graphics Fire Point of Origin- Trial Graphics

A fire erupts in the Kings Cross Underground Station. 31 people are killed and dozens are injured. TMBA created this accident recreation based on the investigation report from the London Fire Brigade for the series "Extreme Evidence" (Court TV).

How the Fire Spread Up the Escalator

The lack of visible flames and relatively clean wood smoke produced lulled the emergency services into a false sense of security, especially as firemen had attended more than 400 similar tube fires over the previous three decades. Firemen later described the fire as around the size and intensity of a campfire. Many people in the ticket hall believed that the fire was small and thus not an immediate hazard: indeed, an evacuation route from the tunnels below was arranged through a parallel escalator tunnel to the ticket hall above the burning escalator.

The fire started beneath the escalator, spread above it, then flashed over and filled the ticket hall with flames and smoke. Investigations later showed that a particular combination of draughts, caused by an eastbound train arriving at the station while a westbound train was leaving, created a 12 mph wind through the station and up the escalator (known as the piston effect; this helps ventilate the tube), adding to the speed of the fire spreading. This wind was however found to be not enough to account for the flash over or the fire ferocity, which was described as similar to a blowtorch.

TMBA provided these accident recreations based on the investigation report from the London Fire Brigade for the series "Extreme Evidence" (Court TV).

For more information call (212) 789-9077

 

Stunt Junkies: Reverse Bungee BASE Jump: Diag 01

Stunt Junkies Discovery Channel TMBA

TMBA is the New York animation studio that created the "physics behind the stunts" animations for Discovery Channels "Stunt Junkies" TV show.

The Discovery series Stunt Junkies attracted a weekly cult following, thanks in part to some amazing 3D animations from TMBA. Our edgy "graffiti" style graphics added lots of visual excitement and helped to quickly, clearly explain the science behind each stunt.

These stylized motion graphics were layered on top of amazing, detailed 3D re-creations of each stunt. This allowed producers manipulate man & machine and highlight the riskiest aspects of each stunt adding great dramatic tension.

Can we handle motorcycles, jetskis, skateboards, parachutes, four wheelers, base jumping, and careening kayaks?

Yep. Check it out. TMBA has lots of visual tricks for adding visual interest to factual information.

Stunt Junkies: Reverse Bungee BASE Jump: Diag 01

Stunt Junkies Discovery Channel TMBA

TMBA is the New York animation studio that created the "physics behind the stunts" animations for Discovery Channels "Stunt Junkies" TV show.

The Discovery series Stunt Junkies attracted a weekly cult following, thanks in part to some amazing 3D animations from TMBA. Our edgy "graffiti" style graphics added lots of visual excitement and helped to quickly, clearly explain the science behind each stunt.

These stylized motion graphics were layered on top of amazing, detailed 3D re-creations of each stunt. This allowed producers manipulate man & machine and highlight the riskiest aspects of each stunt adding great dramatic tension.

Can we handle motorcycles, jetskis, skateboards, parachutes, four wheelers, base jumping, and careening kayaks?

Yep. Check it out. TMBA has lots of visual tricks for adding visual interest to factual information.

Stunt Junkies: Reverse Bungee BASE Jump: Diag 01

Stunt Junkies Discovery Channel TMBA

TMBA is the New York animation studio that created the "physics behind the stunts" animations for Discovery Channels "Stunt Junkies" TV show.

The Discovery series Stunt Junkies attracted a weekly cult following, thanks in part to some amazing 3D animations from TMBA. Our edgy "graffiti" style graphics added lots of visual excitement and helped to quickly, clearly explain the science behind each stunt.

These stylized motion graphics were layered on top of amazing, detailed 3D re-creations of each stunt. This allowed producers manipulate man & machine and highlight the riskiest aspects of each stunt adding great dramatic tension.

Can we handle motorcycles, jetskis, skateboards, parachutes, four wheelers, base jumping, and careening kayaks?

Yep. Check it out. TMBA has lots of visual tricks for adding visual interest to factual information.

Stunt Junkies: Jimmy Pouchert: Reverse Bungee BASE Jump

Stunt Junkies Discovery Channel TMBA

TMBA is the New York animation studio that created the "physics behind the stunts" animations for Discovery Channels "Stunt Junkies" TV show.

The Discovery series Stunt Junkies attracted a weekly cult following, thanks in part to some amazing 3D animations from TMBA. Our edgy "graffiti" style graphics added lots of visual excitement and helped to quickly, clearly explain the science behind each stunt.

These stylized motion graphics were layered on top of amazing, detailed 3D re-creations of each stunt. This allowed producers manipulate man & machine and highlight the riskiest aspects of each stunt adding great dramatic tension.

Can we handle motorcycles, jetskis, skateboards, parachutes, four wheelers, base jumping, and careening kayaks?

Yep. Check it out. TMBA has lots of visual tricks for adding visual interest to factual information.