We have studied the fully nonlinear behavior of premixed flames in a gravitationally stratified medium, subject to the Boussinesq approximation. The key results include the establishment of criteria for when such flames propagate as simple planar flames, elucidation of scaling laws for the effective flame speed, and a study of the stability properties of these flames. The simplicity of some of our scaling results suggests that analytical work may further advance our understandings of buoyant flames.

• Received 15 November 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.67.066305