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Accident Mitigation NASA Research in Crashworthiness and Fire Prevention

Accident Mitigation NASA Research in Crashworthiness and Fire Prevention. INTERNATIONAL AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE November 16, 1998. Douglas A. Rohn Element Manager NASA Lewis Research Center. NASA Aviation Safety Program Accident Mitigation

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Accident Mitigation NASA Research in Crashworthiness and Fire Prevention

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  1. Accident Mitigation NASA Research in Crashworthiness and Fire Prevention INTERNATIONAL AIRCRAFT FIRE AND CABIN SAFETY RESEARCH CONFERENCE November 16, 1998 Douglas A. Rohn Element Manager NASA Lewis Research Center

  2. NASA Aviation Safety Program Accident Mitigation Systems Approach to Crashworthiness Background, Approach, Milestones, Status Fire Prevention Background, Approach, Milestones, Status Resources Outline

  3. Air traffic is projected to triple over the next 20 years Air travel may be the safest mode of travel, but even today’s low accident rate will be unacceptable NASA Enabling Technology Goal Reduce the aircraft accident rate by a factor of five within 10 years and by a factor of ten within 20 years Aviation Safety Program Goal Develop technologies that contribute to reduced aviation fatality and accident rates by 80% by 2007 and 90% by 2017 Aviation Safety Program Objectives Eliminate Targeted Accident Categories Strengthen Safety Technology Foundation Increase Accident Survivability Accelerate System Implementation to All Users & Vehicle Classes NASA Program Background

  4. Program Organization Office of Aero-Space Technology Lead Center (LaRC) Aviation Safety Program Office Mike Lewis (LaRC) Deputies (ARC, DFRC, LaRC, LeRC) Gov’t/IndustryProgram Leadership Team Safety Risk & Benefits Analysis Aviation System Monitoring & Modeling Yuri Gawdiak (ARC) System-Wide Accident Prevention Dave Foyle (ARC) Single Aircraft Accident Prevention John White (LaRC) Weather Accident Prevention Ron Colantonio (LeRC) Accident Mitigation Doug Rohn (LeRC)

  5. Accident Mitigation Increase Human Survivability of Aviation Accidents Reduce the Number of Fatalities Given that an Accident Occurs Goal Objectives Challenges Approach Projects Increase Survivability of Accidents Increase Survivability of Post-Crash Fires Reduce In-flight Fires Manufacturer Liability Implications Organizational Cultures Adverse Economics Aircraft Class Unique Issues Crashworthy Designs Limit Hazards Prevent Post-Crash Fires Prevent In-Flight Fires Fire Prevention Systems Approach to Crashworthiness

  6. Despite improvements, accidents still happen For transports*: 43% involve serious injury/fatality; 45% of those are survivable In-flight fires account for 5% of all fatalities* Technology needed to increase survivability Reduce hazards (due to crash and/or fire) Allow more time for escape Eliminate/detect in-flight fires Focused to all aircraft classes Fuel fire prevention to fires involving Jet-A Accident Mitigation Background * worldwide, 1959 - 1995 data, from Boeing/ASIST

  7. Accident Mitigation Sub-Elements Accident Mitigation “Increase Human Survivability of Aviation Accidents” Systems Approach to Crashworthiness Fire Prevention • Detection • Suppression • Inerting/Oxygen • Fire-Safe Fuels • Materials • Prediction Methodologies • Structures, Materials, Interiors, & Restraints • Crash Resistant Fuel Systems

  8. NASA Aviation Safety Program Accident Mitigation Systems Approach to Crashworthiness Background, Approach, Milestones, Status Fire Prevention Background, Approach, Milestones, Status Resources

  9. Accident Data & Characteristics Transports, survivable accidents*: 23% of fatalities due to impact alone 50% of fatalities due to combination of impact injury and fire GA: low altitude, low airspeed Rotorcraft has made gains in crashworthiness * worldwide, 1959 - 1995 data, from Boeing/ASIST Systems Approach to Crashworthiness

  10. Background NASA involvement have been working other US government agencies and industry to improve crashworthiness for 20+ years Systems approach is required Survivability in a crash is a function of flight conditions at impact impact surface airframe response seat response and restraint system performance occupant response Significant interaction between these contributing elements Systems Approach to Crashworthiness

  11. Approach Focus: Limit crash hazard Analytic tools Provide significant data on the injury mechanisms, injury criteria and crash criteria for typical crashes Provide analysis methodology for optimizing crashworthiness system Seats, restraints, energy absorption Provide material handbooks and design guides Work with industry to produce hardware and test Focus: Limit post-crash fire hazard Crash Resistant Fuel Systems to reduce spillage Transfer existing technology (example DoD Crash Resistant Fuel Systems ) Systems Approach to Crashworthiness

  12. Airbags Systems Approach to Crashworthiness Present Increase human survivability Future FUEL SPILL Validated Analysis Methodology Energy-Absorbing Structural Concepts Advanced Restraints Crash-Resistant Fuel Systems

  13. Systems Approach to Crashworthiness Roadmap 2.5.1 AvSP Phase I Pre - AvSP FY 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Downselected Code Evaluation for Enhancement Validation of 1st Generation Codes/ Enhancement and Update Iterative Code Validation and Enhancement Commuter FEM GA -FEMs Prediction Methodologies Evaluate Codes & Downselect Rotorcraft - FEMs GA - 2nd Gen. FEM Comparison Modeling GA-FEM Rotorcraft FEM 3 3 2 Structural Crash Analysis Tools 1 Advanced Protection Concepts Structures, Materials Interiors, & Restraints 4 Code Validation Testing New Concepts Design Industry “Help” Materials Data Compilation for Transfer New Concepts Testing Crash System Evaluation Rotorcraft Test GA - Test GA/Rotor Test 4 8 7 7 5 6 9 Transport Crash Design Guide - Vol. 1 Crash Resistant Fuel Systems Fuel System Evaluation Definition and Design New Fuel System Concepts Test New Fuel System Concepts 1 Blue - GA Red - Rotorcraft Yellow - Commuter/Transport Purple - GA and Rotorcraft Green - multiple categories 6 10 Concepts to Limit Fires Post-Crash Fire Mitigation Demo 11 input from Fire Prevention L2 Milestone n Decision Pt. m L3 Milestone

  14. Planned Milestones Proof-of-concept of technology & characteristics to limit fuel spill in post crash (4Q/FY01) Analysis tools for structural crashworthiness prediction (4Q/FY02) Advanced concepts to protect human body during crash (4Q/FY03) Demonstrate technology to eliminate/mitigate effects of post-crash fire (4Q/FY04) Transport Crash Design Guide (Vol. 1) (4Q/FY04) Systems Approach to Crashworthiness

  15. Current Status NASA Funded Research Pre-AvSP begun NASA/FAA co-funded activities in Crash Resistant Fuel Systems and analysis methodology work NASA/AGATE alliance (GA) Ongoing cooperation with Army at LaRC GA/Rotorcraft/NASA have established relationships (no formal documents but lots of contacts) Systems Approach to Crashworthiness

  16. Challenges Technology Readiness Dynamic analysis codes that can handle composite materials Developing dynamic testing for components that are representative of the actual environment Developing human injury criteria Crash Resistant Fuel Systems technology that is not a weight penalty Implementation Readiness Certification methods, regulations, and standards may be necessary Affordability and retrofitability Systems Approach to Crashworthiness

  17. NASA Aviation Safety Program Accident Mitigation Systems Approach to Crashworthiness Background, Approach, Milestones, Status Fire Prevention Background, Approach, Milestones, Status Resources

  18. Accident Data & Characteristics Survivable transport crashes *: 27% of fatalities due to fire and gases 50% of fatalities due to combination of impact injury and fire/gases In-flight fires account for 5% of all fatalities Ground maintenance mishaps * worldwide, 1959 - 1995 data, from Boeing/ASIST Fire Prevention

  19. Background NASA involvement Combustion for propulsion systems Micro-gravity combustion, detection, and suppression Two fire issues, both related to fuel or non-fuel combustion Post-accident: overcome by smoke; fire itself In-flight fire/explosion, including detection & suppression Also ground maintenance mishaps Fire Prevention

  20. Approach Focus: Limit fire hazards Fire-safe fuels Evaluate concepts & develop fuel additives/mods for tank flammability Materials Evaluate low heat release materials for cabin interiors Focus: Prevent in-flight/non-crash fires Fuel mods or inerting Evaluate concepts & develop fuel additives/mods for post-crash fires Develop on-board inert gas/oxygen generation systems for commercial applications of tank inerting & on-demand (stored & generated) oxygen Low-false-alarm detection Develop design criteria for low false-alarm detection Suppression Leverage Halon replacement technology as available; consider other suppression concepts Fire Prevention

  21. Fire Prevention LEVERAGE NON-HALON APPLICATIONS FALSE ALARM MICRO-FAB GAS DETECTORS Detection Suppression Fire-Safe Fuels Increase accident survivability & prevent in-flight fires Low Heat-Release Materials On-Board Inert Gas Generation

  22. Fire Prevention Roadmap 2.5.2 AvSP Phase I Pre - AvSP FY 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Detection Design Concepts Evaluate system design concepts Evaluate low false alarms in representative fire conditions Detection Design Criteria for Low False-Alarm B 2 Breadboard & screen sensors Ground tests & transfer concepts to ind. 1 2 Evaluate alternate methods for commercial appl. Demonstrate non-Halon effectiveness Suppression Assess Halon-replacements 3 4 Inerting/ Oxygen Des./Dev prototypes: combined system and/or separate Define requirements Eval. OBIGGS/ OBOGS Concept 7 5 6 System demo in simulated in-flight conditions input from Crashworthiness Fire-Safe Fuels 5 Des. prototype. concepts Identify & evaluate concepts Experimental characterization of fuels, mods, & additives In-Flight Fuel Flammability Reduction Demo 9 1 8 Prototype demonstration in post-crash environment Concepts to Limit Fires Materials 6 Evaluate thermally-stable polymer samples Experiments for database & scale-up characteristics. Post-Crash Fire Mitigation Demo 10 11 L2 Milestone Decision Pt. L3 Milestone n m Note: OBIGGS/OBOGS = On-board inert-gas/oxygen generation system

  23. Planned Milestones Proof-of-concept of technology & characteristics to limit fuel flammability in post crash (4Q/FY01) Design criteria for reliable, low-false-alarm fire detection systems (4Q/FY01) Demonstrate technology to prevent in-flight fuel-related fire/explosion (4Q/FY04) Demonstrate technology to eliminate/mitigate effects of post-crash fire (4Q/FY04) Fire Prevention

  24. Current Status NASA Funded Research Pre-AvSP begun NASA: leverage & expand ongoing research Combustion Propulsion & Fuels Micro-gravity Materials development Structural High-temperature FAA Participation: detection; inerting; fuels Industry: plan to get involved with active vendors Fire Prevention

  25. Challenges Technology Readiness Detection discrimination between fire and non-fire sources Practical products to prevent fuel explosions/fires Light-weight, high volume on-board inert gas/oxygen generation systems Low heat-release materials in economic, large quantities Effective, light-weight alternate suppression systems Implementation Readiness Economic barriers: cost, weight, infrastructure Fire Prevention

  26. NASA funds: $36.8M Cost-share assumed for some activities Industry: in-kind (hardware) for crash tests FAA R&D: co-funded fuel system crash tests & in-kind fire prevention test support Facilities NASA-LaRC Impact Dynamics Research Facility NASA-LeRC Combustion Labs FAA-Tech Center Crash & Fire Facilities Partnerships Strong participation of FAA Tech Center AGATE cooperation for early products in GA Crashworthiness Working on industry partners; leverage with DoD International ? Resources Planning & Rationale

  27. Systems Approach to Crashworthiness and Fire Prevention contribute to NASA safety goal Technical content focused to reduce accident effects in order to enhance survivability; plus prevention Crash dynamics, human protection, post-crash fire, in-flight fire Technical & implementation hurdles recognized Preparing to execute Finalizing plans; establishing cooperation Summary

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