Flame stretch rate as a determinant of turbulent burning velocity

A rational basis for correlating turbulent burning velocities is shown to involve the product of the Karlovitz stretch factor and the Lewis number. A generalized expression is derived to show how flame stretch is related to the velocity field. A new dimensionless correlation of experimental values of turbulent burning velocities is presented. Dimensionless groups also are used in correlations of laminar and turbulent flame extinction stretch rates. A distribution function of stretch rates in turbulent flames, based on an earlier one of Yeung et al., is proposed and the experimental data are well predicted by a theory based on flamelet extinction by flame stretch with this distribution. Uncertainties arise concerning the role of negative stretch rate. Laminar flamelet modelling of complex combustion appears to have a broader validity than might be expected and some explanation for this is offered.