Pablo Ayala obtained his Industrial Engineering degree, majoring in mechanical engineering, from Universidad Pontificia Comillas-ICAI in 2007. Since the year 2010 he has been working as Assistant Researcher at the Institute for Research in Technology (IIT) of Universidad Pontificia Comillas.

Areas of interest:

CFD, fire modelling, fire protection installation, smoke movement

Highlighted Publications

A. Cantizano, P. Ayala, E.M. Arenas, J.R. Pérez-Domínguez, C. Gutiérrez, "Numerical and experimental investigation on the effect of heat release rate in the evolution of fire whirls", Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, Vol. 41, pp. 102513, January 2023. [Online: October 2022] doi: 10.1016/j.csite.2022.102513
JCR-JIF: 6,400 Q1 (2023); 6,600 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 1,035 Q1 (2023); 1,081 Q1 (2025)
D. Álvarez-Coedo, P. Ayala, A. Cantizano, W. Wegrzynski, "A coupled hybrid numerical study of tunnel longitudinal ventilation under fire conditions", Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, Vol. 36, pp. 102202, August 2022. [Online: June 2022] doi: 10.1016/j.csite.2022.102202
JCR-JIF: 6,800 Q1 (2022); 6,600 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 0,916 Q1 (2022); 1,081 Q1 (2025)
P. Ayala, A. Cantizano, C. Gutiérrez, G. Rein, "Influence of atrium roof geometries on the numerical predictions of fire tests under natural ventilation conditions", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 65, pp. 382 - 390, October 2013. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.06.010
JCR-JIF: 2,465 Q1 (2013); 8,000 Q1 (2025) - SJR: Q1 (2013); 1,622 Q1 (2025)
A. Cantizano, R. Caro, M. Fernández, P. Ayala, "Human factors in the model of urban fire spread in Madrid (Spain) focused on the poor population", Sustainability, Vol. 14, nº. 8, pp. 4486, April 2022. [Online: April 2022] doi: 10.3390/su14084486
JCR-JIF: 3,900 Q2 (2022); 4,100 Q2 (2025) - SJR: 0,664 Q1 (2022); 0,750 Q1 (2025)
G. Vigne, W. Wegrzynski, A. Cantizano, P. Ayala, G. Rein, C. Gutiérrez, "Experimental and computational study of smoke dynamics from multiple fire sources inside a large-volume building", Building Simulation, Vol. 14, nº. 4, pp. 1147 - 1161, August 2021. [Online: September 2020] doi: 10.1007/s12273-020-0715-1
JCR-JIF: 4,008 Q2 (2021); 6,900 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 1,103 Q1 (2021); 1,361 Q1 (2025)

show 5 highlighted publications

Journal Publications

A. Cantizano, P. Ayala, E.M. Arenas, J.R. Pérez-Domínguez, C. Gutiérrez, "Numerical and experimental investigation on the effect of heat release rate in the evolution of fire whirls", Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, Vol. 41, pp. 102513, January 2023. [Online: October 2022] doi: 10.1016/j.csite.2022.102513
JCR-JIF: 6,400 Q1 (2023); 6,600 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 1,035 Q1 (2023); 1,081 Q1 (2025)
D. Álvarez-Coedo, P. Ayala, A. Cantizano, W. Wegrzynski, "A coupled hybrid numerical study of tunnel longitudinal ventilation under fire conditions", Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, Vol. 36, pp. 102202, August 2022. [Online: June 2022] doi: 10.1016/j.csite.2022.102202
JCR-JIF: 6,800 Q1 (2022); 6,600 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 0,916 Q1 (2022); 1,081 Q1 (2025)
A. Cantizano, R. Caro, M. Fernández, P. Ayala, "Human factors in the model of urban fire spread in Madrid (Spain) focused on the poor population", Sustainability, Vol. 14, nº. 8, pp. 4486, April 2022. [Online: April 2022] doi: 10.3390/su14084486
JCR-JIF: 3,900 Q2 (2022); 4,100 Q2 (2025) - SJR: 0,664 Q1 (2022); 0,750 Q1 (2025)
G. Vigne, W. Wegrzynski, A. Cantizano, P. Ayala, G. Rein, C. Gutiérrez, "Experimental and computational study of smoke dynamics from multiple fire sources inside a large-volume building", Building Simulation, Vol. 14, nº. 4, pp. 1147 - 1161, August 2021. [Online: September 2020] doi: 10.1007/s12273-020-0715-1
JCR-JIF: 4,008 Q2 (2021); 6,900 Q1 (2025) - SJR: 1,103 Q1 (2021); 1,361 Q1 (2025)
P. Ayala, A. Cantizano, G. Rein, C. Gutiérrez, "Factors affecting the make-up air and their influence on the dynamics of atrium fires", Fire Technology, Vol. 54, nº. 4, pp. 1067 - 1091, July 2018. [Online: April 2018] doi: 10.1007/s10694-018-0725-z
JCR-JIF: 1,420 Q3 (2018); 2,400 Q2 (2025) - SJR: Q1 (2018); 0,604 Q2 (2025)
P. Ayala, A. Cantizano, E.F. Sánchez-Úbeda, C. Gutiérrez, "The use of fractional factorial design for atrium fires prediction", Fire Technology, Vol. 53, nº. 2, pp. 893 - 916, March 2017. [Online: July 2016] doi: 10.1007/s10694-016-0609-z
JCR-JIF: 1,483 Q3 (2017); 2,400 Q2 (2025) - SJR: Q2 (2017); 0,604 Q2 (2025)
P. Ayala, A. Cantizano, G. Rein, G. Vigne, C. Gutiérrez, "Fire experiments and simulations in a full-scale atrium under transient and asymmetric venting conditions", Fire Technology, Vol. 52, nº. 1, pp. 51 - 78, January 2016. [Online: June 2015] doi: 10.1007/s10694-015-0487-9
JCR-JIF: 1,471 Q3 (2016); 2,400 Q2 (2025) - SJR: Q2 (2016); 0,604 Q2 (2025)
F. Adell Pijuán, P. Ayala, A. Cantizano, C. Gutiérrez, "Evacuación segura de personas en recintos de gran aforo en caso de incendio", Seguridad y Promoción de la Salud, Vol. 35, nº. 139, pp. 34 - 45, July 2015.
P. Ayala, A. Cantizano, C. Gutiérrez, G. Rein, "Influence of atrium roof geometries on the numerical predictions of fire tests under natural ventilation conditions", Energy and Buildings, Vol. 65, pp. 382 - 390, October 2013. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.06.010
JCR-JIF: 2,465 Q1 (2013); 8,000 Q1 (2025) - SJR: Q1 (2013); 1,622 Q1 (2025)

show 9 journal publications

Projects

show 8 projects

Ph.D. Thesis

Developed:

P. Ayala, "An experimental and numerical study on the smoke layer growth and movement within large-volume spaces: atrium fires", PhD. dissertation, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, Spain, 2015.

show 1 Ph.D. Thesis

Conference Papers

show 12 conference papers

International Exchanges

Feb - Jun 2013, Department of Flow, Heat and Combustion Mechanics. Faculty of Engineering, Ghent University. Ghent (Belgium).
Jun - Aug 2011, BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering, University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh (United Kingdom).

show 2 international exchanges

Organization of Scientific Meetings

Organization of "IX International Congress on Fire Safety Engineering ". Asociación de Profesionales de Ingeniería de Protección Contra Incendios (APICI); y Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Oct 2017.

show 1 organization of scientific meetings

Media and research dissemination

"Fire whirls in an atrium: experimental and numerical observations". SFPE Europe Magazine, Issue 28. (Dec 2022)

show 1 media and research dissemination

Fellowships and Awards

Fellowship "Study and evaluation of the efficiency of fire protection in buildings atrium". Fundación Mapfre. Madrid (Spain). Jan - Dec 2012.

show 1 fellowships and awards

Other Activities

Doctoral Defense Committee of "Gómez González, J.L. «Simulation-Driven Optimisation of Wildfire Prevention Systems»". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Jul 2026.

show 1 other activities

Dr. Pablo Ayala Santamaría

Highlighted Publications

Journal Publications

F. Adell Pijuán, P. Ayala, A. Cantizano, C. Gutiérrez, "Evacuación segura de personas en recintos de gran aforo en caso de incendio", Seguridad y Promoción de la Salud, Vol. 35, nº. 139, pp. 34 - 45, July 2015.

Projects

Fire modeling on a vessel located under the Bay of Cádiz bridge. Carried out for Universidad de Jaén. Oct/2024-Jun/2025

Simulation using FDS of an event in Vallada. Carried out for Investigation Service Technologies (IST). Feb/2023-Oct/2023

FDS simulation of an event for IST. Carried out for Axa Seguros Generales S.A. de Seguros y Reaseguros. Oct/2022-Nov/2022

FDS Simulation of an accident in Samaniego. Carried out for Axa Seguros Generales S.A. de Seguros y Reaseguros. May/2020-Jul/2021

Feasibility study of a capnometry system for the improvement and optimization of outpatient practice. Carried out for IIT. Sep/2019-Dec/2020

Development of fire simulation models (Qatar University, Lusail). Carried out for Técnica y Proyectos S.A. (TYPSA). Mar/2017-Jul/2017

Safe evacuation of people in large volume spaces in case of fire. Carried out for Fundación Mapfre. Jan/2014-Dec/2014

HUMAP. Carried out for Fundación Mapfre. Jan/2012-Dec/2012

Ph.D. Thesis

Developed:

P. Ayala, "An experimental and numerical study on the smoke layer growth and movement within large-volume spaces: atrium fires", PhD. dissertation, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, Spain, 2015.

Conference Papers

E.M. Arenas, L. Mochón, P. Ayala, J.L. Becerra García, J.R. Pérez-Domínguez, "Low-Cost Solar Thermal Collector of Direct Conversion", presented at XX/XVI Congreso Ibérico y Congreso Iberoamericano de Energía Solar - CIES 2026, Almería, Spain, 23-25 March 2026

A. Cantizano, P. Ayala, C. Gutiérrez, "On transition from pool fires to fire whirls inside a large compartment", presented at 2nd International Fire Safety Symposium - IFireSS 2017, Naples, Italy, 07-09 June 2017

J.M. Urgel, A. Cantizano, P. Ayala, C. Maluk, "Modelling heat conduction in a reinforced concrete element and sensitivity study", presented at 2nd International Fire Safety Symposium - IFireSS 2017, Naples, Italy, 07-09 June 2017, pp. 611-618

P. Ayala, "Uso del diseño factorial fraccional (FFD) para la simulación de incendios en atrios", presented at VIII Congreso Internacional de Ingeniería de Seguridad contra Incendios - SCI 2015, Madrid, Spain, 11-13 February 2015

P. Ayala, A. Cantizano, C. Gutiérrez, "Non-steady smoke temperature profiles prediction for atrium fires using fractional factorial design", presented at III Fire Engineering Conference - FIRE 2014, Valencia, Spain, 23-24 October 2014

A. Cantizano, J.R. Jiménez-Octavio, P. Ayala, A. Rojo, "La ingeniería de protección contra incendios a través de la ingeniería mecánica", presented at XIX Congreso Nacional de Ingeniería Mecánica - XIXCNIM, Castellon de la Plana, Spain, 14-16 November 2012

P. Ayala, A. Cantizano, C. Gutiérrez, G. Rein, "Numerical prediction of smoke temperatures in an atrium under natural ventilation conditions", presented at II Fire Engineering Conference - FIRE 2012, Valencia, Spain, 25-26 October 2012. In: FIRE 2012: Conference proceedings

F. Jiménez, A. Cantizano, P. Ayala, G. Rein, "Application of scaling laws to fire and smoke modelling", presented at II Fire Engineering Conference - FIRE 2012, Valencia, Spain, 25-26 October 2012. In: FIRE 2012: Conference proceedings

International Exchanges

Feb - Jun 2013, Department of Flow, Heat and Combustion Mechanics. Faculty of Engineering, Ghent University. Ghent (Belgium).

Jun - Aug 2011, BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering, University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh (United Kingdom).

Organization of Scientific Meetings

Organization of "IX International Congress on Fire Safety Engineering ". Asociación de Profesionales de Ingeniería de Protección Contra Incendios (APICI); y Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Oct 2017.

Media and research dissemination

"Fire whirls in an atrium: experimental and numerical observations". SFPE Europe Magazine, Issue 28. (Dec 2022)

Fellowships and Awards

Fellowship "Study and evaluation of the efficiency of fire protection in buildings atrium". Fundación Mapfre. Madrid (Spain). Jan - Dec 2012.

Other Activities

Doctoral Defense Committee of "Gómez González, J.L. «Simulation-Driven Optimisation of Wildfire Prevention Systems»". Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain). Jul 2026.