Effect of Thermal Radiation on the Integrity of Pressurized Aircraft Evacuation Slides and Slide Materials

Abstract : Seventeen full-scale fire tests were conducted to examine the effect of thermal radiation from a large fuel fire on the integrity of pressurized aircraft evacuation slides. Urethane nylon, aluminized urethane nylon, neoprene nylon, aluminized neoprene nylon, and aluminized neoprene Kevlar slides were tested at various distances from a 30- by 30-foot fire pit. Heat flux at the slide, inflation pressure, and air temperature were measured and motion pictures and photographs were taken during these full-scale tests. At an average heat flux level of 1.5 Btu/sq ft-second (sec) (15 feet from edge of fire pit) inservice evacuation slides failed in a nonseam area in 23 to 32 seconds. With an aluminized coating applied to the airholding surfaces, the time failure increased by more than a factor of two at the same test condition. A laboratory test method, suitable for materials qualification, was developed that exposes an evacuation slide material to a preselected radiant heat flux and pressure. Tests were conducted on new materials submitted by slide and material manufacturers, and material samples taken from the undamaged areas of full-scale test slides. A good correlation was demonstrated between the failure times measured in full- scale and laboratory tests. (Author)