Abstract：
In order to promote the development of highway tunnel fire disaster prevention and rescue, research of the critical velocity of fire is analyzed systematically. A definition of fire critical velocity is established, research methods are described and the domestic and international research progress is reviewed. The research results are introduced concerning the effects of influential factors such as fire source heat release rate, fuel type, fire source dimensions, fire source position, and temperature of the longitudinal wind, cases with and without sprinkler systems,high altitude, identification conditions for critical wind speed and smoke extraction modes, as well as characteristics of the tunnel such as blockage ratio, longitudinal gradient, section form, and linear curvature. The issues concerning the critical velocity of fire in further research are discussed, providing a reference for academic research on tunnel fire disaster prevention and rescue.
2018, Vol. 55 