Fire Engineering
Resume:
Christopher W. Lautenberger, PhD, PE
Reax Engineering, Inc.
Berkeley, CA 94704
t: 510-***-**** x801
f: 510-***-****
************@***************.***
Professional Profile
Dr. Lautenberger is Principal Engineer and co-founder of Reax Engineering Inc. in Berkeley, CA. His
responsibilities span building code and fire code consulting, fire science research, design of fire protection and life
safety systems, and forensic reconstruction of fires and explosions including post-fire analysis of fire suppression
and detection systems. Lautenberger regularly applies the Scientific Method to test fire investigation hypotheses
under NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, by using fire dynamics and fire modeling to assess
whether a particular hypothesis is consistent with fire science and the available forensic evidence, or should be
eliminated due to contradictions with the same.
Lautenberger's work combines analysis of fire/building codes and related standards with technical aspects of fire
science such as combustion, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, fire dynamics, and fire modeling. Chris
has over 13 years of experience applying fire dynamics and fire modeling in support of scientific research, Fire
Protection Engineering design, and fire investigation. His areas of fire expertise include structural and wildland fire
modeling; smoke, heat, and toxic species generation and transport; sprinkler and smoke detector activation and
performance; ignition and burning of gases, liquids, and solids; ignition of fuels by heated particles, sparks, and
embers; materials flammability; smoke exhaust system sizing; analysis of building and fire code requirements; fire
origin & cause analyses with an emphasis on testing fire investigation hypotheses using science.
Dr. Lautenberger teaches graduate-level courses in Fire Dynamics and Fire Modeling in the Department of Fire
Protection Engineering at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Before joining Reax
Engineering his professional experience included building and fire code consulting, fire modeling, and performance-
based design of fire protection and life safety systems at Arup Fire (San Francisco, CA) and Code Consultants, Inc.
(St. Louis, MO) as well as forensic fire reconstruction and analysis as an independent consultant.
Education
PhD Mechanical Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, 2007
Dissertation topic: Computational modeling of flammability and fires
Major field: Combustion
Minor fields: Wildland Fire Science and Fluid Dynamics
MS Fire Protection Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2001
Thesis topic: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of fires
BS Mechanical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1999
Professional Licensure and Certification
Licensed Professional Engineer, State of California, # FP1676 (Fire Protection Engineering)
National Association of Fire Investigators Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (NAFI-CFEI)
Fire Investigation and Wildland Fire Behavior Training
California State Fire Marshal Fire Origin and Cause Determination (Fire Investigation IA, 40 hr)
California State Fire Marshal Techniques of Fire Investigation (Fire Investigation IB, 40 hr)
International Association of Arson Investigators Certified Fire Investigator Trainer (CFI Trainer, 38 hr)
National Wildfire Coordinating Group Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (NWCG S-190, 8 hr)
National Wildfire Coordinating Group Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (NWCG S-290, 16 hr)
Christopher W. Lautenberger Reax Engineering, Inc. Page 1 of 8
Professional Experience
12/10 present California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Instructor
Fire Protection Engineering Instructor in Cal Poly s new (Fall 2010) MS program
Teaching responsibilities include FPE 502 Fire Dynamics and FPE 504 Fire Modeling
8/08 present Reax Engineering Inc. Berkeley, CA Founding Partner and Principal Engineer
Representative activities:
Fire protection engineering design of fire and life safety systems, performance-based design
Fire modeling, forensic fire reconstruction, wildland fire modeling
Fire dynamics analyses flames & plumes, flashover, glass breakage, etc.
Fire reconstruction theory, analysis, modeling, codes & standards, hypothesis testing
Modeling of smoke detector activation, heat detector activation, and sprinkler activation
Determination of time to untenability or incapacitation by smoke or heat
Prediction of smoke and heat release rates
Materials and product flammability assessment ignition, burning, flame spread
Material pyrolysis property estimation from small-scale fire test data
Computational fluid dynamics, fire and smoke modeling, heat transfer analysis
Sizing of smoke exhaust systems
Fire inspections/origin and cause analyses
Selected recent and ongoing activities/projects:
Calculation of trajectory and temperature histories of metallic particles allegedly generated by
clashing between aluminum and copper electrical conductors. Analysis of grass-fire ignition
potential, initial spread rate, and plume dynamics for same (Victoria, Australia)
Analysis of building code and testing requirements for exterior wall requirements and
development of an alternate means of protection (Burlington, VT)
Analysis of building code requirements at new commercial occupancy (Walnut Creek, CA)
Origin and cause analysis of fire allegedly caused by roofing activities (San Francisco, CA)
Flammability and thermal property assessment of new wall board product
Origin and cause analysis and assessment of whether non-compliance with fire codes and
standards contributed to serious injuries suffered in a residential fire (Redwood City, CA)
Development of generalized wildland fire propagation model to simulate wildland fire spread
Development of a comprehensive three-dimensional computational model for heat release and
emissions from smoldering combustion
Application of high-resolution numerical weather prediction and wildland fire modeling to
quantify wildland fire risk associated with overhead electrical utilities
Analysis of burn incident allegedly involving unvented ethanol-fueled decorative fireplace
Calculation of overhead electrical utility catenary curves and excursions in high winds
Origin and cause hypothesis testing of wildland fire allegedly ignited by logging activities
including assessment of early fire dynamics and plume characteristics
Flammability assessment of acrylic baby blanket
Analysis of ignition and initial spread of a wildland fire (Electra, TX)
Origin determination for fatal alleged arson fire (Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana)
Fire investigation hypothesis testing and analysis of residential LPG explosion for alleged
arson event (Round Mountain, CA)
Analysis of Wildland Urban Interface fire hazards in proposed subdivision (St. Helena, CA)
Peer review of performance-based structural fire engineering design at a large Casino
Thermo-chemical analysis and heat transfer modeling of biomass torrefaction (low
temperature pyrolysis) reactor
Calculation of Light Rail Vehicle heat release rates in the San Francisco Central Subway
using fire growth modeling and fire testing (San Francisco, CA)
Development of code compliance and fire protection strategy for rack storage of flammable
liquid/aerosol storage in multipurpose warehouse (Reno, NV)
Calculation of trajectories, temperatures at landing, and propensity of metal particles for
igniting a wildland fire (Woodland, CA)
Christopher W. Lautenberger Reax Engineering, Inc. Page 2 of 8
Fire modeling and sprinkler activation calculations for carpet warehouse fire (Oakland, CA)
Analysis of Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) fire considerations for proposed subdivision and
development of a request for alternate means of protection (Oakland, CA)
Modeling smoke and heat detector activation to develop a request for alternate means of
protection at a large theater (Cincinnati, OH)
Analysis of wildland fires ignited by exhaust particles from a locomotive (Melbourne,
Australia)
Application of wind and wildland fire modeling to develop a California wildland fire threat
map in conjunction with California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) proceedings
Detailed CFD modeling of fluid flow and heat transfer in a biochar reactor
Fire reconstruction for fatal apartment fire: inter-apartment fire spread, time to smoke detector
activation, identification of building code issues (Carrboro, NC)
Origin determination for alleged arson fire (Modesto, CA)
Analysis of fire code issues related to residential gas explosion (Las Vegas, NV)
Fire modeling in fatal apartment fire: fire reconstruction, calculation of glass breakage and
smoke detector activation times in apartment of origin and adjacent apartments (Salem, OR)
Thermodynamic analysis of non-traditional methods for carbon capture and sequestration
Sizing the required atrium smoke exhaust rate in the new Student Union Building at San Jose
State University (San Jose, CA)
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling of blast wave
Design of FM-200 clean agent fire suppression system for PG&E substation (San Mateo, CA)
Origin and cause analysis in camper van fire
Fire modeling and reconstruction in single family home determination of smoke detector
activation time and conditions at activation (Los Angeles, CA)
Development of a model for ignition of HEPA filters by embers at the Hanford nuclear waste
treatment plant (Richland, WA)
12/07 2/11 University of California at Berkeley Post Doctoral Researcher
Conducted research on NSF Grant 0730556, Tackling CFD Modeling of Flame Spread on
Practical Solid Combustibles
Assessed predictive capabilities of Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) for simulating flame
spread and fire growth
Modified subroutines to improve predictive capabilities of FDS for flame spread modeling
Developed pyrolysis model and material property estimation techniques needed to simulate
the pyrolysis of real-world solid fuels
Developed computer model for ignition of fuel beds by hot particles and fire brands to predict
ignition of fuel beds and initiation of spot fires
1/03 8/08 Independent technical consultant - fire research and forensic fire analysis Berkeley, CA
Conducted fire modeling and fire dynamics analyses for several cases involving explosions,
wildland fires, ignition by embers, compartment/structure fires, and vehicle fires
Developed several fire models in support of fire expert testimony, including fire growth, toxic
species (carbon monoxide) production, and smoke detector activation
Critically analyzed fire models developed by other fire experts to identify weaknesses
1/02 6/08 Arup Fire San Francisco, CA Fire Protection Engineer
Assisted clients with fire safety design and achieving code compliance or performance-based
solutions for hospitals, casinos, malls, libraries, schools, museums, airports, office buildings
Performed egress analyses to determine required exit capacity and estimate Required Safe
Egress Time (RSET) in proposed buildings
Applied FDS to simulate smoke and heat transport from fires in proposed buildings to
determine the available safe egress time (ASET)
Developed and programmed a CFAST-based Monte-Carlo fire simulator
Performed FDS simulations of flame spread and fire growth in a rail vehicle and used full-
scale experimental data to calibrate the model
Christopher W. Lautenberger Reax Engineering, Inc. Page 3 of 8
10/00 12/01 FM Global Research Norwood, MA
Examined existing soot formation and oxidation models in the literature and used this
research to postulate a new engineering soot model that is compatible with FDS
Worked with FM Global and NIST personnel to add this new model for soot formation and
oxidation to FDS, and performed simulations of laminar and turbulent diffusion flames
5/00 8/00 Code Consultants, Inc. Saint Louis, MO
Responsible for examining proposed building designs for compliance with relevant codes
Performed engineering analyses to support equivalencies
Dissertation and Thesis
1/03 12/07 Ph. D. Dissertation University of California, Berkeley
Developed a pyrolysis/material decomposition model (Gpyro) to simulate the gasification,
pyrolysis, and combustion of condensed-phase fuels
Developed a novel optimization technique that uses a genetic algorithm to extract the material
pyrolysis properties needed for simulation of solid-phase pyrolysis from bench-scale fire tests
Performed FDS-based simulations of ignition, flame spread, and fire growth in normal and
reduced gravity environments as part of a NASA-sponsored project
9/00 12/01 MS Thesis Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Developed a novel model for soot formation/oxidation in non-premixed flames
Implemented model in FDS to calculate soot formation and flame radiation
8/98 5/99 Major Qualifying Project (MQP) Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Developed an experimental program and ran several real-scale room/corner fire tests in WPI s
room calorimeter to evaluate the flame spread characteristics of composite wall linings
Peer Reviewed Publications
1. Lautenberger, C., de Ris, J., Dembsey, N.A., Barnett, J.R. & Baum, H.R., A Simplified Model for Soot
Formation and Oxidation in CFD Simulation of Non-premixed Hydrocarbon Flames, Fire Safety Journal 40
141-176 (2005).
2. Lautenberger, C., Zhou, Y.Y. & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., Numerical Modeling of Convective Effects on Piloted
Ignition of Composite Materials, Combustion Science and Technology 177-****-**** (2005).
3. Lautenberger, C. & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., Approximate Analytical Solutions for the Transient Mass Loss
Rate and Piloted Ignition Time of a Radiatively Heated Solid in the High Heat Flux Limit, Fire Safety Science
8 445-456 (2005).
4. Lautenberger, C., Rein, G. & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., Application of a Genetic Algorithm to Estimate Material
Properties for Fire Modeling from Bench-Scale Fire Test Data, Fire Safety Journal 41 204-214 (2006).
5. Rein, G., Lautenberger, C., Fernandez-Pello, A.C., Torero, J.L. & Urban, D.L., Application of Genetic
Algorithms and Thermogravimetry to Determine the Kinetics of Polyurethane Foam in Smoldering
Combustion, Combustion and Flame 146 95-108 (2006).
6. Rich, D., Lautenberger, C., Torero, J.L., Quintiere, J.G. & Fernandez-Pello, C., Mass Flux of Combustible
Solids at Piloted Ignition, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 31 2653-2660 (2007).
7. Kwon, J.-W., Dembsey, N.A., & Lautenberger, C.W., Evaluation of FDS v4: Upward Flame Spread, Fire
Technology 43 255-284 (2007).
8. Avila, M.B., Dembsey, N.A., Kim, M.E., Lautenberger, C., & Dore, C., Fire Characteristics of Polyester FRP
composites with Different Glass Contents, Composites Research Journal 2 1-14 (2008).
9. Lautenberger, C., Kim, E., Dembsey, N. & Fernandez-Pello, C., The Role of Decomposition Kinetics in
Pyrolysis Modeling Application to a Fire Retardant Polyester Composite, Fire Safety Science 9 1201-1212
(2008).
10. Dodd, A.B., Lautenberger, C. & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., Numerical Examination of Two-Dimensional Smolder
Structure in Polyurethane Foam, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 32 2497-2504 (2009).
11. Lautenberger, C. & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., Generalized Pyrolysis Model for Combustible Solids, Fire Safety
Journal 44 819-839 (2009).
12. Lautenberger, C. & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., A Model for the Oxidative Pyrolysis of Wood, Combustion and
Flame 156-****-**** (2009).
Christopher W. Lautenberger Reax Engineering, Inc. Page 4 of 8
13. Hadden, R., Scott, S., Lautenberger, C., & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., Ignition of Combustible Fuel Beds by Hot
Particles: an Experimental and Theoretical Study, Fire Technology 47 341-355 (2011).
14. Fereres, S., Lautenberger, C., Fernandez-Pello, C., Urban, D.L., & Ruff, G.A., Mass Loss Rate at Ignition in
Reduced Pressure Environments, Combustion and Flame 158-****-**** (2011).
15. Lautenberger, C. & Fernandez-Pello, C., Optimization Algorithms for Material Pyrolysis Property
Estimation, Fire Safety Science 10 751-764 (2011).
16. Dodd, A.B., Lautenberger, C., & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., Computational Modeling of Smolder Combustion and
Spontaneous Transition to Flaming, Combustion and Flame 159 448 461 (2012).
17. Matala, A., Lautenberger, C., & Hostikka, S., Generalized direct method for pyrolysis kinetics parameter
estimation and comparison to existing methods, Journal of Fire Sciences 30 339-356 (2012).
18. Wong, W., Alston, J., Lautenberger, C., and Dembsey, N., CFD Flame Spread Model Validation: Multi-
component Data Set Framework, Journal of Fire Protection Engineering (2012). (accepted)
Book Chapters
1. Lautenberger, C., Torero, J.L. & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., Understanding Materials Flammability, in
Flammability Testing of Materials Used in Construction, Transport and Mining, Edited by V. Apte, Woodhead
Publishing, Cambridge, UK pp. 1-21, 2006.
2. Lautenberger, C. & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., Pyrolysis Modeling, Thermal Decomposition, and Transport
Processes in Combustible Solids, in Transport Phenomena in Fires, Edited by M. Faghri and B. Sunden, WIT
Press, Billerica, MA pp. 209-248, 2008.
3. Lautenberger, C. & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., Spotting Ignition of fuel beds by firebrands, in Computational
Methods and Experimental Measurements XIV, Edited by C.A. Brebbia and G.M. Carlomango, WIT Press,
Billerica, MA pp. 603-612, 2009.
4. Lautenberger, C. & Hostikka, S., Large Scale Fire Modeling, in Flame Retardancy of Polymeric Materials,
Second Edition, Edited by C.A. Wilkie and A.B. Morgan, Marcel Dekker pp. 551 585, 2010.
Lautenberger, C., Radiation Heat Transfer, in SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 5th Edition,
5.
2013 (submitted).
Selected Conference Publications and Technical Reports
1. Beyler, C., Hunt, S., Lattimer, B., Iqbal, N., Lautenberger, C., Dembsey, N., Barnett, J., Janssens, M., & Dillon,
S. Prediction of ISO 9705 Room/Corner Test Results . United States Department of Transportation. United
States Coast Guard Research and Development Center. Washington, DC. 1999.
2. Lautenberger, C., Stevanovic, A., Rich, D., & Torero, J., Effect of Material Composition on Ignition Delay of
Composites, Composites 2003, Anaheim CA, October 2003.
3. Lautenberger, C., Stevanovic, A., Rich, D., Torero, J. & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., An Experimental and
Theoretical Study on the Ignition Delay Time of Composite Materials, Western States Section/The Combustion
Institute, Los Angeles CA, October 2003.
4. Rein, G., Lautenberger, C., Fernandez-Pello, A.C., Torero, J.L. & Urban, D.L., Derivation of the Kinetics
Parameters of Polyurethane Foam Using Genetic Algorithms, Fourth Joint Meeting of the US Sections of the
Combustion Institute, Philadelphia PA, March 2005.
5. Rein, G., Lautenberger, C. & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., On the Derivation of Polyurethane Kinetics Parameters
Using Genetic Algorithms and its Application to Smoldering Combustion, Fourth International Conference on
Computational Heat and Mass Transfer, Paris France, Vol. 1 pp. 578-584, May 2005.
6. Rein, G., Lautenberger, C. & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., Using Genetic Algorithms to Derive the Parameters of
Solid-Phase Combustion from Experiments, 20th International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and
Reactive Systems, Montreal, Canada, August 2005.
7. Rich, D., Lautenberger, C., McAllister, S. & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., Microgravity Flame Spread Rates Over
Samples of Polymer and Polymer/Glass Composites, Western States Section/The Combustion Institute, Boise
ID, March 2006.
8. Coles, A., Wolski, A., Lautenberger, C.W., & Dembsey, N.A., Building Code Requirements for Performance
Based Designs and Fire Modeling, Composites 2006, St. Louis, MO, October 2006.
9. Lautenberger, C., McAllister, S., Rich, D., & Fernandez-Pello, C., Modeling the Effect of Environmental
Variables on Opposed-Flow Flame Spread Rates with FDS, International Congress on Fire Safety in Tall
Buildings, Santander, Spain, October 2006.
10. McAllister, S., Rich, D., Lautenberger, C., & Fernandez-Pello, C., Modeling Microgravity and Normal Gravity
Opposed Flame Spread over Polymer/Glass Composites, 45th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit,
Reno, NV, January 2007, AIAA Paper 2007-740.
Christopher W. Lautenberger Reax Engineering, Inc. Page 5 of 8
11. Lautenberger, C., McAllister, S., Rich, D., & Fernandez-Pello, C., Effect of Environmental Variables on Flame
Spread Rates in Microgravity, 45th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, Reno, NV, January 2007,
AIAA Paper 2007-383.
12. Chatterjee, P., de Ris, J.L., & Lautenberger, C.W., A General Combustion Model for Radiation Dominated
Non-premixed Flames, Fifth International Seminar on Fire and Explosion Hazards, Edinburgh, UK, 2007.
13. McAllister, S., Rich, D., Lautenberger, C., Fernandez-Pello, C. & Yuan, Z.G., Modeling Microgravity and
Normal Gravity Flame Spread Rates over Samples of Polymer and Polymer/Glass Composites, Fifth
International Seminar on Fire and Explosion Hazards, Edinburgh, UK, April 2007.
14. Lautenberger, C. & Fernandez-Pello, C., A Generalized Pyrolysis Model for Combustible Solids, Fifth
International Seminar on Fire and Explosion Hazards, Edinburgh, UK, April 2007.
15. Coles, A., Wolski, A., & Lautenberger, C., Using Fire Dynamics Simulator for Fire Growth Modeling,
Interflam 2007, London, UK, September 2007.
16. Dembsey, N., Avila, M., Kim, E., Lautenberger, C., & Dore, C., Fire Characteristics of Polyester FRP
Composites with Different Glass Contents, Composites & Polycon 2007 Tampa, FL, October 2007.
17. Lautenberger, C. & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., Modeling Ignition of Combustible Fuel Beds by Embers and
Heated Particles, Forest Fires 2008, 2008.
18. Coles, A., Lautenberger, C., Wolski, A., Smits, B., & Wong, K., Using Computer Fire Modeling to Reproduce
and Predict FRP Composite Fire Performance, Composites & Polycon 2009, 2009.
19. Kim, E., Dembsey, N., & Lautenberger, C., Parameter Estimation for Pyrolysis Modeling Applied to Polyester
FRP Composites with Different Glass Contents, Fire and Materials 2009, 2009.
20. Lautenberger, C., Wong, W., Dembsey, N., Coles, A., & Fernandez-Pello, C., Large-Scale Turbulent Flame
Spread Modeling with FDS5 on Charring and Noncharring Materials, Fire and Materials 2009, 2009.
21. Coles, A., Wolski, A., & Lautenberger, C., Predicting Design Fires in Rail Vehicles, 13th International
Symposium on Aerodynamics and Ventilation of Vehicle Tunnels (ISAVVT 13), 2009.
22. Dodd, A.B., Lautenberger, C., & Fernandez-Pello, A.C. Numerical Modeling of Smoldering Combustion and
Transition to Flaming, Sixth US National Combustion Meeting, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2009.
23. Scott, S, Hadden, R., Fereres, S., Lautenberger, C., & Fernandez-Pello, A.C., Ignition of Combustible Fuel
Beds by Embers and Heated Particles, Western States Section/The Combustion Institute, Irvine, CA, October
2009.
24. Fereres, S., Lautenberger, C., Fernandez-Pello, C., Urban, D., & Ruff, G., Effect of Ambient Pressure on Mass
Loss Rate at Piloted Ignition, Western States Section/The Combustion Institute, Boulder, CO, March 2010.
25. Lautenberger, C., Wong, W.C., Coles, A., Dembsey, N., & Fernandez-Pello, C., Comprehensive Data Set for
Validation of Fire Growth Models: Experiments and Modeling, Interflam 2010, Nottingham, UK, July 2010.
26. Thiry, A., Suzanne, M., Bellivier, A., Bazin, H., Coppalle, A., & Lautenberger, C., Different Approaches for
Fire Source Modeling Application to Arcueil Experiments, Interflam 2010, Nottingham, UK, July 2010.
27. Dodd, A., Lautenberger, C., Fernandez-Pello, C., & Putzeys, O., Examination of the Spontaneous Transition
from Smoldering to Flaming: Comparison of Simulations and Experiments, Interflam 2010, Nottingham, UK,
July 2010.
28. Fereres, S., Lautenberger, C., Fernandez-Pello, C., Ruff, G., & Urban, D., Modeling the effect of ambient
variables on piloted ignition of solid combustible materials, Seventh US National Combustion Meeting, March
2011.
29. Matala, A., Lautenberger, C., & Hostikka, S., Direct method for estimation of pyrolysis kinetics and
comparison to existing methods, Seventh US National Combustion Meeting, March 2011.
30. Lautenberger, C., Modeling Wildland Fire Spread Using an Eulerian Level Set Method and High Resolution
Numerical Weather Prediction, International Congress on Fire Computer Modeling, October 2012, Santander,
Spain.
Short Courses
1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories Fire Modeling Short Course A Short Course Presented to Fire
Protection Engineers. Co-taught, with Professor James Milke (University of Maryland) and Professor Frederick
Mowrer (California Polytechnic State University), a 3-day short course on fire dynamics and fire modeling for
Lawrence Livermore and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories employees (March 20 22, 2012).
Christopher W. Lautenberger Reax Engineering, Inc. Page 6 of 8
Selected Presentations and Invited Lectures
1. A Practical CFD Model for Soot Formation and Flame Radiation, International Conference on Engineered
Fire Protection Design, San Francisco, CA, June 13, 2001.
2. Effect of Material Composition on Ignition Delay of Composites, Composites 2003 Convention and Trade
Show, Anaheim, CA, October 2, 2003.
3. Experimental and Theoretical Study on Ignition Delay of Composites, Western States Section of the
Combustion Institute Fall 2003 Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, October 20, 2003.
4. Approximate Analytical Solutions for the Transient Mass Loss Rate and Piloted Ignition Time of a Radiatively
Heated Solid in the High Heat Flux Limit, The Eighth International Symposium on Fire Safety Science,
Beijing, China, September 20, 2005.
Effect of Environmental Variables on Flame Spread Rates in Microgravity, 45th AIAA Aerospace Sciences
5.
Meeting and Exhibit, Reno, NV, January 8, 2007.
6. Generalized Pyrolysis Model for Combustible Solids, 2007 Annual Fire Conference, National Institute of
Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, April 4, 2007.
Generalized Pyrolysis Model for Combustible Solids, 5th International Seminar on Fire and Explosions
7.
Hazards, Edinburgh, UK, April 24, 2007.
8. Generalized Pyrolysis Model for Combustible Solids, FM Global Research, Norwood, MA, June 19, 2007
(invited seminar).
9. Pyrolysis Modeling What Level of Accuracy is Needed to Match Current Gas-Phase Accuracy?, The Ninth
International Symposium on Fire Safety Science, Fire Spread Modeling Workshop, Karlsruhe, Germany,
September 21, 2008 (invited presentation).
10. Estimating Material Properties for Numerical Pyrolysis Modeling from Laboratory Experiments, The Ninth
International Symposium on Fire Safety Science, Karlsruhe, Germany, September 21, 2008 (invited
presentation).
11. The Role of Decomposition Kinetics in Pyrolysis Modeling Application to a Fire Retardant Polyester
Composite, The Ninth International Symposium on Fire Safety Science, Karlsruhe, Germany, September 26,
2008.
12. Fire Growth Modeling in Buildings Where We Are and Where We Need to Be, IIE Seminar, University of
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, October 30, 2008 (invited seminar).
13. Some Unsolved Problems in Fire Dynamics: The Needed Physics and Mathematics, Mathematical Problems
in Fire Safety Engineering Joint Workshop, Edinburgh, UK, October 31, 2008 (invited seminar).
14. Large-Scale Turbulent Flame Spread Modeling with FDS5 on Charring and Noncharring Materials, Fire and
Materials 2009, San Francisco, CA, January 26, 2009.
15. Fire Growth Modeling: Small-Scale Flammability Tests to Large Scale Fire Behavior, ASTM E5 Research
Review, Vancouver, BC, June 15, 2009 (invited presentation).
16. Optimization Algorithms for Material Pyrolysis Property Estimation, The Tenth International Symposium on
Fire Safety Science, College Park, MD, June 21, 2011.
17. The Role of Fire Science, Fire Dynamics, and Fire Modeling in Testing Forensic Fire Investigation
Hypotheses, IIE Seminar, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, August 20, 2012 (invited seminar).
18. Modeling Wildland Fire Spread Using an Eulerian Level Set Method and High Resolution Numerical Weather
Prediction, International Congress on Fire Computer Modeling, October 19 2012, Santander, Spain.
Publication and Presentation Awards
Best Paper Overall at Composites & Polycon 2007, Tampa, FL, October 2007 for Dembsey, N. et al., Fire
Characteristics of Polyester FRP Composites with Different Glass Contents, presented by N. Dembsey.
Best paper (second prize) at the Fifth International Seminar on Fire and Explosion Hazards, Edinburgh,
UK, April 2007 for Lautenberger, C. & Fernandez-Pello, C., Generalized Pyrolysis Model for Simulating
Charring, Intumescent, Smoldering, and Noncharring Gasification, presented by C. Lautenberger.
2011 International Association for Fire Safety Science Best Thesis Award (Americas Region) for 2007
PhD Dissertation entitled Generalized Pyrolysis Model for Combustible Solids . This IAFSS award
recognizes the best research dissertation at the PhD and Masters levels in the field of fire safety science and
engineering that was completed between 2007 and 2010.
International Association for Fire Safety Science Best Paper Award (honorable mention) for 2008 paper
entitled The Role of Decomposition Kinetics in Pyrolysis Modeling Application to a Fire Retardant
Polyester Composite, by Lautenberger, C., Kim, E., Dembsey, N. & Fernandez-Pello, C. [Fire Safety
Science 9: 1201-1212 (2008)].
Christopher W. Lautenberger Reax Engineering, Inc. Page 7 of 8
Journal Referee / Peer Review
Advances in Engineering Software
Artificial Intelligence Review
Combustion and Flame
Combustion Science and Technology
Energy & Fuels
Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science
Express Polymer Letters
Fire and Materials
Fire Safety Journal
Fire Safety Science (IAFSS Symposia)
Fire Technology
International Journal of Computational Fluid Dynamics
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
International Journal of Wildland Fire
Journal of Fire Protection Engineering
Journal of Fire Sciences
Proceedings of the Combustion Institute
Conference Advisory Boards/Technical Committees
Member of Scientific Advisory Board for International Congress on Combustion and Fire Dynamics,
Santander, Spain, October 2010
Member of Technical Program Committee (Compartment Fires) for the Tenth International Symposium on
Fire Safety Science (IAFSS Symposium), College Park, MD, June 2011
Member of Scientific Advisory Board for International Congress on Fire Computer Modeling, Santander,
Spain, October 2012
Professional Societies
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
California Conference of Arson Investigators (CCAI)
International Association for Fire Safety Science (IAFSS)
International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE)
Expert Testimony
Deborah Bernard v Straus Carpet Company, State of California Superior Court Case No RG08411818
(deposition on 13 September 2010).
Cosumnes Community Service District v WRG Fire Training & Simulation Systems Inc., State of California
Case No. 34-200*-******** (deposition on 11 April 2011).
Best v Marin Outdoor Living Inc., et al., State of California Superior Court, County of San Francisco, Case
CGC-09-488559 (deposition on 13 September 2011).
United States of America v Sierra Pacific Industries, et al., United States District Court, Eastern District of
California, 2:09-cv-02445-KJM-EFB (deposition on 15 November 2011).
Christopher W. Lautenberger Reax Engineering, Inc. Page 8 of 8
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