Constantine Sarkos

The National Bureau of Standards (NBS) Smoke Chamber is shown to be the most appropriate laboratory test method available for predicting a material's relative performance with respect to the smoke it will produce in an aircraft cabin fire. The advantages and limitations of this method are described and a hypothetical method of relating NBS Smoke Chamber data of human visibility in a cabin is presented.

Bernard R. Wright

Experimental apparatus and procedures for evaluating the mist flammability of neat and fire-safety fuels have been developed. The apparatus, which was developed as part of this laboratory's fuel safety program, is capable of evaluating fuel mist flammability under conditions ranging from low air shear to extremely high air shear Fuel is delivered through a capillary at a controlled rate, and three impinging air streams form a mist at the point of impingement. The fuel mist passes through an overwhelming ignition source to avoid marginal ignition. Flashback from the ignition source towarct1the fuel capillary is interpreted as a measure of mist flammability. Flashback is recorded utilizing a video camera and tape recorder. These results can then be carefully evaluated at some later time by measuring directly from a gradl.1ated'scale located beyond the flame. Correlation of results with simulated full-scale helicopter crash tests appears to be excellent. In its present form, the technique provides a rapid and reliable laboratory research tool. In its as intended as a standardizable interlaboratory test method at this time.

Jseph A. Avbel

The feasibility of using gelled fuel (nominal 250 centipoise viscosity) with full scale aircraft fuel system components was investigated. Tests indicated that turbine-type flowmeters are suitable for measuring flow rates with accuracies of 1 percent. Jettison and fuel feed operations were conducted using a B-57 wing fuel tank. Approximately 3 percent more gelled fuel than JP-5R remained in the tank after “emptying” the tank in both boost pump and jettison tests. Flow rates and times to “empty” the tank were significantly poorer with the gelled fuel when compared to the results obtained with the JP-5R fuel. The gelled fuel tested is considered unsatisfactory because of its instability in storage, causing wide variations in viscosity.

Raymond E. Johnston, E. Leon Reamer

The purpose of this activity was to evaluate the suitability of a portable measuring device for rapid determination of light level by photometry of inset light fixtures installed in airport-paved surfaces. In addition, if applicable, changes to improve the photometer by rectifying deficiencies were to be recommended.

Richard Hill

Tests were run to determine the effect of by-pass air flow on a burner-can burn-through flame. A simulator was developed to produce a burn-through flame external of a J-57 engine. Bleed-air from a J-57 was ducted and used as by-pass air during testing. Temperatures of the outer duct wall were monitored. A large decrease in temperature was noted with air flow through the by-pass duct.