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Tim Marker

Laboratory & Full Scale Testing of Non Traditional Lightweight Aircraft Seats. Tim Marker. FAA Technical Center. Problem : Next Generation aircraft seats utilizing lighter materials in their construction are unfairly restricted by the FAR-mandated 10% weight loss criteria.

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Tim Marker

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  1. Laboratory & Full Scale Testing of Non Traditional Lightweight Aircraft Seats Tim Marker FAA Technical Center

  2. Problem: Next Generation aircraft seats utilizing lighter materials in their construction are unfairly restricted by the FAR-mandated 10% weight loss criteria. % Weight Loss = (initial weight – final weight) / (initial weight) x 100 Example: 5 lb seat [(5.0-4.6) / 5.0] x 100 = 8.0% PASS Example: 3 lb seat [(3.0-2.6) / 3.0] x 100 = 13.3% FAIL Proposed Testing: Evaluate performance of lightweight seat cushions under realistic conditions.

  3. Testing Proposed by FAATC in June 2002 Supply 18 Sets of Test Cushions to FAATC Test Cushion Construction per FAR 25.853(c) Appendix F, Part II (or Handbook) Back: 18 W x 25 H x 2 T Bottom: 18 W x 20 D x 4 T “Each specimen tested must be fabricated using the principal components (i.e., foam core, flotation material, fire blocking material, if used, and dress covering) and assembly processes (representative seams and closures) intended for use in the production articles. If a different material combination is used for the back cushion than the bottom cushion, both material combinations must be tested as complete specimen sets, each set consisting of a back cushion specimen and a bottom cushion specimen.”

  4. Testing Proposed by FAATC in June 2002 • FAATC randomly selects 6 sets of cushions to conduct • lab-scale tests (oil burner) • Confirm seats exceed 10% weight loss If Yes • Proceed with full-scale evaluation using remaining 12 sets

  5. Description of Materials Baseline Seat 1 (6 tests) Standard fire retardant foam, 2.75 lb/ft3 density PBI felt fire blocking fabric, 290 g/m2 Standard 90/10 wool/nylon blend dress cover Baseline Seat 2 (3 tests) Standard fire retardant foam, 2.75 lb/ft3 density PBI felt fire blocking fabric, 290 g/m2 Standard 90/10 wool/nylon blend dress cover

  6. Description of Materials (con’t) Lightweight Seat A (6 tests) Fire hardened foam, 0.62 lb/ft3 density, no blocking layer Dress Cover: Wool 91% / PA 9%, 375 g/m2 Lightweight Seat B (6 tests) Fire hardened foam, 2.2 lb/ft3 density, no blocking layer Dress Cover: Wool 90% / PA 10%, 380 g/m2 Lightweight Seat C (6 tests) Fire hardened foam 3.0 lb/ft3 + lightweight foam 0.59 lb/ft3, no blocking layer Dress Cover: Wool 91% / PA 9% 380 g/m2 Lightweight Seat D (6 tests) Lightweight foam 0.59 lb/ft3, no blocking layer Dress Cover: Wool 91% / PA 9% 380 g/m2

  7. Lab-Scale Test Results PASS PASS FAIL FAIL FAIL FAIL

  8. Analysis of Laboratory Tests on Lightweight Seats • Bottom dress cover yields higher % weight loss than bottom cushion in all cases • Back dress cover yields higher % weight loss than back cushion in A, C, and D • Ratio of total cushion weight to total dress cover weight ranged from .65 to 2.2 Lightweight Seat A ratio = 0.65 Lightweight Seat B ratio = 1.99 Lightweight Seat C ratio = 2.19 Lightweight Seat D ratio = 1.60

  9. Full-Scale Test Parameters Test Article B707 fuselage, fully fire hardened interior Instrumentation Continuous gas analysis at 2 locations, 2 heights Temperature measurement: 3 thermocouple trees + individual seat thermocouples Smoke measurement: smoke-meters at 2 locations, 3 heights each 4 interior video cameras, 2 external Interior Materials 0.25-Inch thick crushed-core Nomex honeycomb panels, meets 65/65 Aircraft-grade carpet, meets VBB Test Execution 55 gallon JP8 fuel fire in 8’ by 10’ pan adjacent to fuselage External fuel fire extinguished following noticeable flashover

  10. Full-Scale Test Parameters Baseline Test Fire Blocked Urethane Using PBI Felt Material with 90/10 Wool/Nylon Dress Weight Loss ranged from 6 to 10% in Lab Test AFFF applied to pan fire @ 5:30 CO2 Extinguishing Agent applied to interior @ 6:30

  11. Full-Scale Test Parameters Lightweight Seat A Fire hardened foam, no blocking layer, with 91/9 Wool/Nylon dress cover Weight Loss ranged from 15 to 25% in Lab Test AFFF applied to pan fire @ 5:30 CO2 Extinguishing Agent applied to interior @ 6:30 Lightweight Seat B Fire hardened foam, no blocking layer, with 90/10 Wool/Nylon dress cover Weight Loss ranged from 11 to 14% in Lab Test AFFF applied to pan fire @ 4:30 CO2 Extinguishing Agent applied to interior @ 5:30

  12. Full-Scale Test Parameters Lightweight Seat C Fire hardened foam, no blocking layer, with 91/9 Wool/Nylon dress cover Weight Loss ranged from 10 to 17% in Lab Test AFFF applied to pan fire @ 5:30 CO2 Extinguishing Agent applied to interior @ 6:00 Lightweight Seat D Fire hardened foam, no blocking layer, with 90/10 Wool/Nylon dress cover Weight Loss ranged from 13 to 14% in Lab Test AFFF applied to pan fire @ 5:15 CO2 Extinguishing Agent applied to interior @ 5:30

  13. Full-Scale Test Apparatus

  14. Seat Identification & Thermocouple Location

  15. Full-Scale Test Configuration in 707

  16. Full-Scale Test Configuration in 707

  17. Full-Scale Test Configuration in 707

  18. View Into Fire Door in 707

  19. Thermocouple Placement on Seats

  20. Close-up of Seat Thermocouple

  21. Typical Cabin Fire @ 1:00

  22. Typical Cabin Fire @ 2:00

  23. Typical Cabin Fire @ 3:00

  24. Typical Post Event

  25. Full-Scale Weight Loss Results

  26. Analysis of Full-Scale Weight % Loss Data • All tests resulted in high percentage weight loss of seats near fire door • Percentage weight loss of seat 4 a good indicator of fire crossing aisle • Percentage weight loss during full-scale tests largely dependent on length • of test/suppression of the external fire, and not a good indicator of overall • cushion performance.

  27. Temperature, Fire Gas, and Smoke Levels

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