Vytenis Babrauskas

Previously reported rates of heat release using five different bench-scale test methods are compared with each other and against a limited series of large scale tests. The materials tested were low-flammability wall lining materials, of a construction similar as might be used for aircraft cabin walls. Based on the peak values at different irradiances, three of the methods gave similar results: the Cone Calorimeter, the FMRC Flammability Apparatus, and the Flame Height Apparatus. The other data, from the OSU calorimeter in the thermopile mode and the OSU calorimeter in the oxygen-consumption mode, gave results typically 1/2 of the first three methods. Simple techniques for predicting full-scale performance from bench-scale data are emerging. The preliminary application of these appears promising.

Developed over 15 years ago, the Continuous Wire Fire Detector has seen service on each new generation of aircraft since. It has undergone continual updating to meet the more severe requirements of advancing aircraft specifications, and to incorporate service-indicated improvements.

Civil aviation has a major program to replace halons with environmentally acceptable agents/systems in transport aircraft fire extinguishing systems.

H.L. Hansberry

The Civil Aeronautics Administration is engaged in the conduct of a program involving fire tests on aircraft powerplant installations looking to the development of adequate fire detecting and extinguishing systems, the minimization of potential ignition sources, and the development of fire-resistant construction.

R. Fish, J. Parker, G. Fohlen

NASA’s program on transparent polymers for military aircraft canopies has been expanded and now includes a wide range of performance properties not identified previously. The three major areas that are considered are: (1) fire resistance – particularly in relation to carrier deck fire; (2) utility barriers to high-energy radiation; and (3) ballistic tolerance. In this paper attention is focused on the role of polycyclic aromatic transparent polymers, in solving these three classes of problems, and on the enunciation of the underlying thermo chemical mechanisms we have found useful in the case of the epoxy derivatives. A new material based on a methylolated epoxy system is discussed. Relative to the third problem area, ballistic tolerance, it was noted that monolithic epoxy panels were quite brittle and laminate structures were considered. The results of ballistic tests on these laminates is discussed together with research into the molecular configuration of some polycarbonate structures