The Role of Aircraft Panel Materials in Cabin Fires and Their Properties.

Abstract : Analyses were performed on full-scale aircraft post-crash fire data. In particular the rate and involvement of aircraft wall and ceiling panels are examined. For two full-scale experiments the energy release rate of the interior cabin furnishings were estimated and an estimate of ceiling ignition computed. Also an extensive set of measurements, by several advanced state-of-the-art laboratory flammability devices, was conducted for fire aircraft panel materials. The measurements included piloted ignition by thermal radiation, energy release rate, combustion produce generation rates, lateral flame spread rates in a vertical orientation, flame heights and their heat transfer to a contiguous vertical surface, and for one devices results were obtained at conditions of oxygen concentrations lower than normal air. Comparison among the results for each device show good consistency of the ignition data, but only fair agreement for energy release rate data. Keywords: Aircraft interior panels; Experimental analysis; Material fire data; Post-crash fires; Theoretical modeling.