Samuel V. Zinn, Jr., Thor I. Eklund. William E. Neese

Laboratory evaluations were performed to determine the flammability characteristics, physical properties, and rheological profiles of modified fuel sprays. Photographs were made of fuel particles formed by air shearing in the NAFEC Fire Test Facility. Ignition studies of the modified fuel sprays included photographs of typical combustion patterns. Comparisons of shear viscosity, droplet geometries, and ignitability of the different ant misting fuels clarify the effect of polymeric additives on turbine fuel safety, and indicate critical criteria for modified fuel specifications.

The results of this investigation lead to two major conclusions. First, the modified fuel spray consists of particles of large size and highly asperical geometry. Second, although a modified fuel can be flammable in the presence of an intense ignition source, all modified fuels tests were more difficult to ignite than neat fuel.

Larry Fewell, Robert Rosser, John Parker

This report is a compilation of papers preented at the proceedings of the conference on the "Development of Fire-Resistant Aircraft Passenger Seats, held at NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, on March 1976.

R. E. Blumke

The cargo and baggage test compartment was designed and fabricated at Long Beach, then assembled at the Sacramento Test Center.

Transportation Information Center

This report is prepared by the Transportation Systems Center's Information Division (TSC-220) for the DOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety and Consumer Affairs. It contains preliminary information subject to change and is considered an internal DOT Working Paper with a limited distribution. It is not a formal referable report. Distribution is effected by and the responsibility of the sponsor. Any comments on policy, content and suggested changes for DOT use should be made to the Office of Safety Affairs (TES-10), Attention: Philip Bolger, Director, Safety Affairs, DOT Hdq., Washington, DC 20590. Requests for changes in distribution or technical comment on the report should be made to Transportation Systems Center, Attention: William F. Gay (223), Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142.

J. D. Garner

The costs of civil air transport emergency evacuation demonstrations using human subjects have risen as seating capacities of these aircraft have increased. Repeated tests further increase the costs and also the risks of injuries to participants.

A method to simulate such evacuations, by use of a computer model based on statistics from measured components of the escape path, has been developed. This model uses the General Purpose Simulation System (GPSS) computer programming language to represent various features of the escape process; e.g., seating and exit configurations, passenger mix, door-opening delays, time on escape slides, slide capacity, and redirection of passengers to equalize escape lines.

Results of simulated evacuations from the DC-10, L-1011 and B-747 aircraft and a military aircraft are reported. These results have been compared with results of certification demonstrations from the DC-10, L-1011 and B-747. Comparison of exit size substitutions was evaluated as a means of estimating differences in escape potential for exit design optimization.