Full-Scale Test Evaluation of Aircraft Fuel Fire Burnthrough Resistance Improvements

Marker, Timothy R.

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Full-Scale Test Evaluation of Aircraft Fuel Fire Burnthrough Resistance Improvements

1999-01-01
By Marker, Timothy R.

File Language:

English

Details

Creators:

Marker, Timothy R.
Corporate Creators:

United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. William J. Hughes Technical Center. Fire Safety Section
Subject/TRT Terms:

Aircraft Fires Burnthrough Coatings Film Coatings Fire Resistance Fires Flammability Flammability Tests Heat Insulating Materials Postcrash Phase Transport Aircraft
Publication/ Report Number:

DOT/FAA/AR-98/52
Resource Type:

Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:

United States
Edition:

Final Report
Corporate Publisher:

United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. Office of Aviation Research
Abstract:

This report summarizes the research and full-scale tests undertaken by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to evaluate the fuselage burnthrough resistance of transport category aircraft that are exposed to large post-crash fuel fires. Twenty-eight full-scale tests were conducted in a reusable fuselage test rig to determine the effectiveness of thermal-acoustical insulation improvements in preventing or delaying fuselage burnthrough. The testing showed that the method of attaching the insulation to the fuselage structure had a critical effect on the effectiveness of the insulation material. In addition, the composition of the insulation bagging material, normally a thermoplastic film, was also shown to be an important factor. A number of fiberglass insulation modifications and new insulation materials were shown to be effective in varying degrees. For example, a heat- treated, oxidized polyacrylonitrile fiber (OPF) encased in a polyimide bagging material prevented burnthrough for over 8 minutes. When contrasted with current insulation materials, which were shown to fail in as little as 2 minutes, effective fire barriers such as the OPF insulation offer the potential of saving lives during a post-crash fire accident in which the fuselage remains intact.
Format:

PDF
Collection(s):

FAA Fire Safety
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:632ad9d04d78bb410051196080e3c5f77eb35794689a2fe63c700046371b6fcf37c860605a7559bd41fa3f999a7933d43c32b4641c0c3ee16fc60b4e52a24a28
Download URL:

https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/92729/dot_92729_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 2.03 MB ]

File Language:

English

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