The rate of expansion of spherical flames

In this paper we investigate the acceleration of the expansion of premixed spherical flames and evolution of the cellular patterns on their surfaces. An asymptotic model is used for the simulations and a spectral numerical algorithm is employed to study flames over large time intervals. Numerous numerical experiments indicate that for large enough time the acceleration of a two-dimensional expanding flame slows down but the expansion rate is still able to reach values significantly exceeding the burning rate of an exactly circular flame. The importance of the effect of forcing was also confirmed and the validity of simulations of sectors of circular flame fronts was studied in order to justify prospective use of the Fourier spectral model for three-dimensional spherical flames.