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At least 811 records · Page 45

Numerical techniques for solving nonlinear instability problems in smokeless tactical solid rocket motors

The selection of a satisfactory numerical method for calculating the propagation of steep fronted shock life waveforms in a solid rocket motor combustion chamber is discussed. A number of different numerical schemes were evaluated by comparing the results obtained for three problems: the shock tube problems; the linear wave equation, and nonlinear wave propagation in a closed tube. The most promising method--a combination of the Lax-Wendroff, Hybrid and Artificial Compression techniques, was incorporated into an existing nonlinear instability program. The capability of the modified program to treat steep fronted wave instabilities in low smoke tactical motors was verified by solving a number of motor test cases with disturbance amplitudes as high as 80% of the mean pressure.

Baum, J. D.↗

Development of assembly techniques for fire resistant aircraft interior panels

Ten NASA Type A fire resistant aircraft interior panels were fabricated and tested to develop assembly techniques. These techiques were used in the construction of a full scale lavatory test structure for flame propagation testing. The Type A panel is of sandwich construction consisting of Nomex honeycomb filled with quinone dioxime foam, and bismaleimide/glass face sheets bonded to the core with polyimide film adhesive. The materials selected and the assembly techniques developed for the lavatory test structure were designed for obtaining maximum fire containment with minimum smoke and toxic emission.

Lee, S. C. S.↗

Flammability screening tests of resins

Selected flammability characteristics of glass cloth laminates of thermosetting resins are evaluated. A protocol for the evaluation of the flammability hazards presented by glass cloth laminates of thermosetting resins and the usefulness of that protocol with two laminates are presented. The glass laminates of an epoxy resin, M-751 are evaluated for: (1) determination of smoke generation from the laminates; (2) analysis of products of oxidative degradation of the laminates; (3) determination of minimum oxygen necessary to maintain flaming oxidation; (4) evaluation of toxicological hazards.

Arhart, R. W.↗

Fireworthiness of transport aircraft interior systems

The key materials question is addressed concerning the effect of interior systems on the survival of passengers and crew in the case of an uncontrolled transport aircraft fire. Technical opportunities are examined which are available through the modification of aircraft interior subsystem components, modifications that may reasonably be expected to provide improvements in aircraft fire safety. Subsystem components discussed are interior panels, seats, and windows. By virtue of their role in real fire situations and as indicated by the results of large scale simulation tests, these components appear to offer the most immediate and highest payoff possible by modifying interior materials of existing aircraft. These modifications have the potential of reducing the rate of fire growth, with a consequent reduction of heat, toxic gas, and smoke emission throughout the habitable interior of an aircraft, whatever the initial source of the fire.

Parker, J. A.↗

Performance of semi-transportation-cooled liner in high-temperature-rise combustors

Results from tests with the Lamilloy combustor liner are compared with results obtained from a conventionally designed, film cooled, step-louver liner. Operation of the Lamilloy liner with counterrotating swirl combustor fuel modules with mixing venturis was possible to a fuel-air ratio of 0.065 without obtaining excessive liner metal temperatures. At the 0.065 fuel-air condition the average liner metal temperature was 140 K and the maximum local temperature 280 K above the inlet air temperature. Combustion efficiency, pattern factor, and smoke data are discussed.

Wear, J. D.↗

Study to develop improved fire resistant aircraft passenger seat materials

The Phase 3 study of the NASA 'Improved Fire Resistant Aircraft Seat Materials' involved fire tests of improved materials in multilayered combinations representative of cushion configurations. Tests were conducted to determine their thermal, smoke, and fire resistance characteristics. Additionally, a 'Design Guideline' for Fire Resistant Passenger Seats was written outlining general seat design considerations. Finally, a three-abreast 'Tourist Class' passenger seat assembly fabricated from the most advanced fire-resistant materials was delivered.

Duskin, F. E.↗

Testing of aircraft passenger seat cushion material, full scale. Data, volume 2

Burn characteristics of presently used and proposed seat cushion materials and types of constructions were determined. Eight different seat cushion configurations were subjected to full scale burn tests. Each cushion configuration was tested twice for a total of 16 tests. Two different fire sources were used: Jet A-fuel for eight tests, and a radiant energy source with propane flame for eight tests. Data were recorded for smoke density, cushion temperatures, radiant heat flux, animal response to combustion products, rate of weight loss of test specimens, cabin temperature, and type and content of gas within the cabin. When compared to existing seat cushions, the test specimens incorporating a fire barrier and those fabricated from advanced materials, using improved construction methods, exhibited significantly greater fire resistance. Flammability comparison tests were conducted upon one fire blocking configuration and one polyimide configuration.

Schutter, K. J.↗

Testing of aircraft passenger seat cushion materials. Full scale, test description and results, volume 1

Eight different seat cushion configurations were subjected to full-scale burn tests. Each cushion configuration was tested twice for a total of sixteen tests. Two different fire sources were used. They consisted of one liter of Jet A fuel for eight tests and a radiant energy source with propane flame for eight tests. Both fire sources were ignited by a propane flame. During each test, data were recorded for smoke density, cushion temperatures, radiant heat flux, animal response to combustion products, rate of weight loss of test specimens, cabin temperature, and for the type and content of gas within the cabin atmosphere. When compared to existing passenger aircraft seat cushions, the test specimens incorporating a fire barrier and those fabricated from advanced materials, using improved construction methods, exhibited significantly greater fire resistance.

Schutter, K. J.↗

Development of new addition-type composite resins

The most promising of a number of new addition type polyimides and polyaromatic melamine (NCNS) resins for use in high performance composite materials. Three different cure temperature ranges were of interest: 530-560 K (500-550 F), 475-530 K (400-500 F), and 450 K (350 F). Examined were a wide variety of polyimide precursors terminated with 5 norbornene groups and addition polymerized at 560 K similar to PMR-15 and LARC-160 polyimides. In addition, a number of lower curing cinnamal end capped polyimides and a bismaleimide were investigated but were not found promising. A group of NCNS resins were investigated and some were found to be superior to current epoxy resins in moisture resistance, oxidative aging and flame and smoke properties.

Kray, R. J.↗

Aviation turbine fuel properties and their trends

Fuel property values and their trends were studied through a review of a recognized, wide ranging sample population from actual fuel inspection data. A total of 676 fuel samples of Jet A aviation turbine fuel were compiled over an eleven year period. Results indicate that most fuel samples have one to three near-specification properties, the most common being aromatics, smoke point, and freezing point.

Friedman, R.↗

Low NO/x/ combustion systems for burning heavy residual fuels and high-fuel-bound nitrogen fuels

Design concepts are presented for lean-lean and staged rich-lean combustors. The combustors are designed for the dry reduction of thermal NO(x), control of NO(x) from fuels containing high levels of organic nitrogen, and control of smoke from low hydrogen content fuels. The combustor concepts are tested with a wide variety of fuels including a middle distillate, a petroleum based heavy residual, a coal derived synthetic, and ratios of blends of these fuels. The configurations of the lean-lean and rich-lean combustion systems are provided along with a description of the test rig and test procedure.

White, D. J.↗

Anomalous extinction in the planetary nebula Abell 30

The stellar continuous energy distribution from 8000 to 1250 A in Abell 30 is quite peculiar. The observed flux can be understood if a hot central star (approximately 200,000 K) is immersed in an absorbing dust cloud which has anomalous absorption with its peak near 2470 A. The dust nebula is a strong infrared source, maintained by conversion of the stellar UV flux. The internal reddening is E(B - V) = 0.30 mag and reaches 2.5 mag at 2470 A; it is best matched not by graphite but by laboratory observations of carbon smoke. Intense P Cygni lines show that a strong stellar wind exists. The central star may be an O subdwarf, approaching more nearly a helium-carbon degenerate DO.

Greenstein, J. L.↗

Fabrication and evaluation of RX-6450 /NCNS-13P/ composites

The chemistry, processing, and laminate properties of NCNS-13P resin are described. The effect on graphite fiber laminates of temperature, oxidative aging, water absorption, and humidity-temperature aging were determined. Glass laminates were evaluated for the fire resistance and smoke and toxic gas evolution under flaming conditions.

Kray, R. J.↗

Three-Dimensional Air Curtains

Proposed scheme for gas "curtains" partitions large volume into several separate spaces. Concept may also be useful in such terrestrial applications as unobtrusive isolation of smoking and nonsmoking sections in restaurants and office. Scheme is suitable for isolation of objectionable or hazardous gases in free space.

Stephenson, J. G.↗

Formulation and characterization of polyimide resilient foams of various densities for aircraft seating applications

Light weight, heat and fire resistant low smoke generating polyimide foams are developed for aircraft seating applications. The material is upgraded and classified into groups for fabrication of cushions possessing acceptable comfort properties. Refinement and selection of foaming processes using a variety of previously developd foaming techniques and definition of property relationships to arrive at the selection and classfication of polyimide foams into five groups in accordance with predetermined ILD values are emphasized.

Gagliani, J.↗

Pollution reduction technology program small jet aircraft engines, phase 3

A series of Model TFE731-2 engine tests were conducted with the Concept 2 variable geometry airblast fuel injector combustion system installed. The engine was tested to: (1) establish the emission levels over the selected points which comprise the Environmental Protection Agency Landing-Takeoff Cycle; (2) determine engine performance with the combustion system; and (3) evaulate the engine acceleration/deceleration characteristics. The hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and smoke goals were met. Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) were above the goal for the same configuration that met the other pollutant goals. The engine and combustor performance, as well as acceleration/deceleration characteristics, were acceptable. The Concept 3 staged combustor system was refined from earlier phase development and subjected to further rig refinement testing. The concept met all of the emissions goals.

Bruce, T. W.↗

ERBS fuel addendum: Pollution reduction technology program small jet aircraft engines, phase 3

A Model TFE731-2 engine with a low emission, variable geometry combustion system was tested to compare the effects of operating the engine on Commercial Jet-A aviation turbine fuel and experimental referee broad specification (ERBS) fuels. Low power emission levels were essentially identical while the high power NOx emission indexes were approximately 15% lower with the EBRS fuel. The exhaust smoke number was approximately 50% higher with ERBS at the takeoff thrust setting; however, both values were still below the EPA limit of 40 for the Model TFE731 engine. Primary zone liner wall temperature ran an average of 25 K higher with ERBS fuel than with Jet-A. The possible adoption of broadened proprties fuels for gas turbine applications is suggested.

Bruce, T. W.↗

Investigations of flowfields found in typical combustor geometries

The flowfields of gas turbine combustion chambers were investigated. Six flowfield configurations with sidewall angles alpha = 90 and 45 deg. and swirl vane angles phi = 0, 45 and 70 deg. are characterized. Photography of neutrally-buoyant helium-filled soap bubbles, tufts, and injected smoke helps to characterize the time-mean streamlines, recirculation zones and regions of highly turbulent flow. Five-hole pitot probe pressure measurements allow the determination of time-mean velocities u, v and w. An advanced computer code equipped with a standard two-equation kappa-epsilon turbulence model was used to predict corresponding flow situations and to compare results with the experimental data.

Lilley, D. G.↗