Demetrius Kourtides and John Parker

The field of fire toxicity encompasses a wide variety of disciplines and technologies, and for that reason requires literature searches into many areas of knowledge. The 883 references in this bibliography represent the information known by the authors to be available or forthcoming in published form, as of June 30, 1997. This bibliography was prepared to assist those working in this filed to help reduce the hazards of fire to man.

Robert H. Ahlers

Crash tests were conducted with two A3 and two RB66 aircraft under impact-survivable crash conditions. The wing tanks in the first RB66 aircraft' contained Jet A fuel modified with an 0.7-percent polymeric additive. The aircraft was crash tested into the specially constructed test site at 104.6 knots. The fuel mist generated by the fuel released from four crash-inflicted openings in the front wing spar was not ignited by the array of ignition sources. The wing tanks in the second RB66 aircraft were filled with JET A fuel modified with O.5 percent of the same polymeric additive. The aircraft was crashed into the test site at 102.4 knots. The test conditions for the second RB66 test were made more severe by increasing the fuel temperature, partially drilling out areas in the front spar to increase the opened fuel spillage area, and by adding four fuel release openings under the wing, larger ignition sources, and operating the engines. The fuel mist burst into flame and followed the aircraft down the test site, continuing to burn until extinguished by the firefighting crew. These full-scale tests indicate that modified fuels have a potential for reducing the postcrash fire hazard and that small-scale tests should be conducted which are representative of full-scale crash conditions to determine the additive concentration to be used in any future crash tests. ....

R.F. Salmon

A wing spillage test apparatus was developed to generate a broad data base on the flammability behavior of anitmisting fuel.

C.P. Sarkos, R.M. Johnson

A study was conducted using a simple model of an aircraft cabin to examine a new concept for smoke venting during a cabin fire. Findings were based on continuous smoke and temperature measurements in the model and visual observations. Present ceiling construction materials were of sufficient fire resistance to contain a fire entirely within the cabin enclosure. A significant reduction in cabin smoke level was achieved with a polyethylene ceiling that readily melted immediately above the fire location and provided an opening for smoke removal through the “attic” and eventually outside of the aircraft. Additional studies were recommended to verify the findings of the simple model tests and to examine the practicality of implementing the concept in a real transport aircraft.

Thor Eklund

To provide a more complete background for comparative evaluation of these so-called anti misting additives, some simple fire spreading tests were performed.