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8th Triennial International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research Conference

A detailed study on revising the flammability test method for evacuation slide materials, including testing procedures with calorimeters, pressure inflation, and full-scale test results. The revised method involves controlling power input for accurate testing.

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8th Triennial International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research Conference

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  1. Evacuation Slide Materials Method: The Development of a Revised Flammability Test Method Federal Aviation Administration Dung DoFire Safety BranchFAA Wm. J. Hughes Technical CenterAtlantic City International Airport, NJ 08405 8th Triennial International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research Conference

  2. Continental DC- 10Los Angeles, California; March 1, 1978 Rejected Take-off after 2 tires failed, airplane goes off end of runway Left main landing gear collapses, a fire begins in this area 186 Passengers, 14 Crew 2 Fatalities

  3. Full Scale Test Were Also Conducted Fire Pit slide slide 2 Slides: placed at opposite sides and equidistant at 15 feet from a 30- by 30-foot fire pit which contained 500 gallons of JP-4 fuel Calorimeters : 6 calorimeters were placed on the 2 Slides (3 calorimeters placed at 13 , 4 and 1 feet above the ground on each side facing the fire pit) . The average of the heat flux was 1.5 Btu/ft2 Pressure Inflation : air nominal operating pressures of 2 Slides were 2.5 Psi

  4. Summary of Full-Scale Test Results

  5. The Development of a Revised Flammability Test Method for Evacuation Slide Materials Calorimeter 1.5 Btu/ft2sec The Current Test Method The Revised Test Method

  6. Laboratory Scale Flammability Calibration Tests Conducted Using 2 Test Methods 2” 4” Furnace 6 – 7 “ Current Test Method Calorimeter Heat Flux = 1.5 Btu/ft2sec Calorimeter Revised Test Method Voltage Regulator Power Input = 425 to 435Watts

  7. Round Robin of Small Scale Slide Test The current test method was used for the test: • 5 labs participated in this test • 2 materials were tested , 3 tests for each material • Test Slide Results

  8. Small Scale Test Apparatus Pressure Cylinder Test Sample Furnace

  9. Small Scale Test Test Specimens: 7 inches diameter, with eight 0.250-inch holes Test vessel pressurized to normal operating pressure Exposure Heat Flux: 1.5 Btu/ft2 sec Record time to first observed pressure loss Each specimen must hold pressure for a minimum of 180 seconds. Retaining Ring 5 ½ “ Pressure Gage HF = 1.5 Btu/ft2 sec 7 “ 4” 2” Furnace 6 – 7 “ Test Specimen Test Specimen 12 3/8”

  10. Three Materials were Tested

  11. Round Robin Test Results of The Mustard/Mustard Materials Time (Seconds) 2.5 Btu/ft2secs

  12. Round Robin Test Results of Yellow/ GrayGray side (Aluminum Coated Side) facing the Radiant Heat Pressure (PSI)

  13. Passed and Failed Materials Pass Material Fail Material Yellow /Gray material before the test Mustard/Mustard material before the test Gray is Aluminum coating on material Yellow /Gray material after the test and passed the test Mustard/Mustard material after the test and failed at mostly about 30 secs into the test

  14. Comparison of The Revised Test Method using Power Input to The Current Test Method using Heat Flux for the Test Furnace was used for the Test: • Solid Coil Furnace • The distance of the coil was 1 5/8 Inches from the face of the furnace Slide tests were conducted to compare the revised test method to the current test method: • Two different materials were tested , 3 tests on each material • The test results

  15. Small Scale Test utilized the power Input Pressure Gage 7 “ 2” 4” 6 – 7 “ Test Specimen Furnace 12 3/8” Test Specimen Pressure Cylinder Voltage Transformer Power Input = 438 to 345 Watts

  16. Distance from the Coil to the Face of the Furnace was 1 5/8 inches 1 5/8 “

  17. Power Requirement to Yield Correct Heat Flux Output:

  18. Test Results of Yellow/Gray Material: Comparing HFG and Power Input

  19. The Test Results of Mustard / Mustard Materials forthe both Methods

  20. Activity: The majority of the Task Group Labs had furnaces with their distance of the coil of 1 ½ inches from the face of the furnace. Evacuation Slide Tests: • Furnace with its distance 1 ½ inches from the face of furnace • 2 Labs participated • 2 materials were conducted for the test, one test for each material • Test Results of 2 Labs

  21. The Test Results of the Power Inputs of Lab A and the FAA Lab

  22. The Calibration Test Results of 2 Labs

  23. The Test Results of Mustard/Mustard Material of Lab A and The FAA Time (secs)

  24. The Test Results of Yellow/Gray Material of Lab A and The FAA

  25. Conclusion: Lab A, and the FAA lab used the revised test method and had the same test results for both slide materials. The advantages of controlling the power input for this flammability test are: • The power input will be calibrated and achieved in a mater of seconds • The AC voltage and electrical current of the furnace are continuously measured, recorded and controlled using a computerized data system • The electrical power input (voltage x current) can be calculated continuously • The electrical power can be observed on the monitor and can be adjusted during the test • There is no need to recalibrate the radiant heat furnace The revised test method required for conducting the tests as: • The furnace Part # is 68086038000 the with the coil distance of 1 ½ inches from the face of furnace • The power input is about 425 to 435 Watts to expose to the test specimen

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