Joseph M. Kuchta, Joseph M. Kuchta, Aldo L. Furno, George H. Martindill, Agnes C. Imhof

A method for rating the potential crash fire hazard of gelled and emulsified hydrocarbon fuels was developed at the request of the Federal Aviation Administration since the use of thickened aircraft fuels may provide a significant reduction in the crash fire hazard. The rating system is designed primarily for screening candidate-thickened fuels with respect of their overall flammability hazard under laboratory scale conditions. The fuel properties included in the rating system are minimum autoignition temperature, flash point, volatility rate, self spread rate, regression or burning rate, flame spread rate, and fire ball size under impact conditions; methods for determining these fuel properties are also described in the report. Experimental data on such fuel properties are presented for JP-4 and JP-5 or Jet A thickened that were formulated with an emulsifying agent or with one of three different gelling agents submitted for evaluation. The results if these determinations and the numerical ratings derived for each fuel composition are discussed.

C.M. Urban

A "Preliminary Description of Emulsified Fuels" is presented which provides essential property requirements based on knowledge developed at this and other laboratories. Many test methods were adopted, adapted, or developed as required, and tentative limits were established wherever the applicable information was available.

The candidate emulsified fuel formulations, developed at the various laboratories, were evaluated at this laboratory, by the test methods of the "preliminary description, " in a small turbine engine and in bench turbine combustion and fuel systems.

National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center, Atlantic City

Bidders and offers are cautioned as follows: By signing this bid or offer, the bidder or offers will be deemed to have signed and agreed to the provision.

Ronald B. Pope

Evaluation of ablative materials for thermal protection at low heating rates is discussed. Initially, 21 different materials with densities between 255 and 2200 kg/m were evaluated by performing convective heating tests in arc heated nitrogen streams and observing the backface, temperature rise and surface recession. Modified polyurethane foam composite, which has characteristics desirable for ablative thermal protection, was evaluated and excellent insulative performance was demonstrated. Ablative performance of the foam materials is compared with the performance of “state-of-the-art” materials and with analytical predictions.

Julius J. Gassmann

The purpose of this project was to study the characteristics and evaluate the performance of the fire detection systems used on present day jet aircraft or proposed for use in the immediate future and to provide information with respect to tendencies to produce false fie warnings.