Good to the last drop: Montana State University scientists explore how fluid dynamics can help improve aerial firefighting

Wildfires have become increasingly devastating in recent decades, with Montana alone experiencing roughly 340,000 acres burned annually since 2000. In 2023, the state allocated more than $180 million for wildfire suppression, highlighting the critical need for more efficient firefighting methods.

A groundbreaking collaboration at Montana State University (MSU) is addressing this challenge through the lens of fluid dynamics. Led by associate professor Mark Owkes, researchers are analyzing how water and fire retardant behave when dropped from air tankers, aiming to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of wildfire suppression efforts.

MSU photo by Kelly Gorham

The research, detailed in a recent article by MSU, explores the complexities of fluid behavior from aerial drops, a critical yet overlooked aspect of firefighting. Owkes, alongside Dominique Legendre, a renowned fluid mechanics professor from the Toulouse Institute of Fluid Mechanics in France, is using advanced simulations and Montana’s most powerful supercomputer, Tempest, to model and predict the optimal dispersion of fire retardants.

Mark Owkes, associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, is using fluid dynamics and supercomputers to maximize efficiency in aerial firefighting. MSU Photo by Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez

Understanding the precise dynamics of how retardants atomize in air, their viscosity, and how environmental factors like wind, temperature, and altitude affect their efficacy is central to this research. The goal is straightforward yet complex: achieving a uniform distribution of retardant with maximum concentration precisely where it's needed most, thus saving both lives and resources.

Legendre and Owkes shared their insights at the recent Institute for Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems Conference hosted by MSU, emphasizing the importance of industry collaboration. This intersection of academia, international expertise, and aviation industry involvement marks a promising step forward in the battle against wildfires.

For a deeper dive into this innovative approach to firefighting, read the full article here: https://www.montana.edu/news/24594/