CFAST Output Comparison Method and Its Use in Comparing Different CFAST Versions

摘要

A multiple step method was developed to compare the output of CFAST simulations,produced either by the same version of CFAST, or by different versions of the model. Scenarios to be compared are run with CFAST before the method is used, producing files containing a history of the model results. The first step of the comparision method produces a text file of important output variables from each of these history files, corresponding to significant fire phenomena occuring during the course of each fire simulation. The next step of the method is used to compare two such text files, and store their differences. Finally, the last step summarizes the difference information found in one or more files from the previous step. The comparison method can be used to find differences between CFAST runs, and track changes in the CFAST model and detect if they perform as anticipated.