Since　the　physics　of　air　entrainment　is　not　yet　clearly　understood,　most　of　the　fire　plume　expressions　reported　in　the　literature　were　derived　empirically.　Experiments　with　different　fire　geometry,　fuels,　and　ambient　conditions　would　be　difficult　when　trying　to　derive　comprehensive　plume　temperature　and　velocity　fields　from　existing　theories.　Computational　fluid　dynamics　(CFD),　a　practical　engineering　tool　in　fire　engineering,　might　give　a　better　understanding　of　the　plume　behavior.　This　technique　can　eliminate　factors　which　are　difficult　to　control　in　experiments,　but　would　affect　the　plume　movement.　Aerodynamics　for　thermally　induced　plumes　is　studied　by　CFD　in　this　article.　Three　types　of　thermal　plumes　such　as　axisymmetric　plume,　balcony　spill　plume,　and　door　plume　are　considered.　Four　axisymmetric　plume　equations　and　three　balcony　spill　plume　models　are　assessed　by　comparing　with　the　CFD　results.　For　door　plumes,　qualitative　results　of　the　mass　entrainment　rate　are　obtained.　Investigations　in　this　article　are　useful　for　fire　engineers　in　designing　smoke　management　systems　in　an　affordable　fashion.　This　is　a　critical　point　in　implementing　an　engineering　performance-based　fire　code.