Leo Parts, Richard Olt

A high temperature surface ignition test apparatus has been designed, fabricated, and performance-tested. It was designed to determine ignition temperatures and to observe flame propagation character tics of aircraft fluids at temperature ranging up to 1649 degree C (3000F). A resistance-heated graphite element functions as the hot surface. Its temperature is controlled by electrical power input. The graphite heater simulates graphite composite brake surfaces in high performance aircraft. Results of ignition composite brake surfaces in high performance aircraft. Results of ignition tests with presently used and developmental fluids are presented.

K.T. Tang, J.R. Loyd, A.M. Kanury, K. Satoh

The UNSAFE computer code is utilized to study the spread of fire and smoke in aircraft cabins due to fires located in the cabin floor. A simulation study is first made based on expected data to establish the equivalence between two-dimensional and three-dimensional parameters including fire distribution and shape, the doorway height, and level of turbulence and also the effects of these parameters on the fire and smoke spread. The computer code is then used to simulate the spread of fire and smoke in a wide-body aircraft cabin with and without seats for two different scenarios of the fire location. The results show the dramatic effects of the seats on the flow, temperature, and smoke concentration behaviors inside the cabin. Important parameters have been identified such as the seat back height and configuration of the seat bottom, closed or open.

D.A. Kourtides, J.A. Parker, A.C. Ling, W.R. Hovatter

This report describes work completed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Ames Research Center under Interagency Agreement No. DTFAO3-AOO149 for the Federal Aviat'ion Administration Technical Center. The purpose of this work was to examine the potential of fire blocking mechnaisms for aircraft seat cushions in order to provide an optimized seat configuration with adequate fire protection and minimum weight. Aluminized thermally stable fabrics were found to proyide adequate fire protectionwhen used inconjunction with urethane foams, while maintaining minimum weight and cost penalty.

Transportation Safety Institute

This handbook is republished in an attempt to standardize the technical language used in aircraft accident and incident reports.

Paul Boris

Tests were conducted on self-sealing fuel lines whose exterior surface was covered with one of several in tumescent coatings. These tests included subjecting coated lines to simulated in-flight fires and to .50 Cal AP and API gunfire. The self-sealing material was flammable, and these tests have shown that the destructive intrusion of a severe fire can be significantly delayed by using an in tumescent coating. During this test program, the in tumescent coatings had no apparent affect on self-sealing capability of the protected fuel lines when subjected to .50 CAL AP gunfire.