Fire Ignition and Propagation in Hidden Zones of Aircrafts: A Novel Confined Fire Apparatus (CFA) for Flame Spreading Investigation
This research investigated potential fire hazards originating in hidden areas of pressurized sections of aircrafts. The objective was to establish a laboratory-scale flammability test method to predict the behavior of fire propagation under real fire conditions. A confined fire apparatus (CFA) was d...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Fire |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/6/8/292 |
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| author | Vasiliki N. Papadogianni Alexandros Romeos Athanasios Giannadakis Konstantinos Perrakis Thrassos Panidis |
| author_facet | Vasiliki N. Papadogianni Alexandros Romeos Athanasios Giannadakis Konstantinos Perrakis Thrassos Panidis |
| author_sort | Vasiliki N. Papadogianni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This research investigated potential fire hazards originating in hidden areas of pressurized sections of aircrafts. The objective was to establish a laboratory-scale flammability test method to predict the behavior of fire propagation under real fire conditions. A confined fire apparatus (CFA) was designed and constructed, and several tests were conducted to better understand the involved mechanisms and their consequences and to estimate flame spreading in hidden-zone fires. The experimental facility and flame-spreading results obtained for a typical material involved in hidden fires, specifically a ceiling panel, were presented and discussed. The experimental facility consisted of a narrow passage where a fire was initiated using a burner on a specimen exposed to a controlled heat flux. Experiments were conducted in the absence of forced airflow. Flame spreading was estimated through visual monitoring of fire development or temperature measurements at specific locations in the specimen. Both methods yielded similar results. The flame spread velocity in relation to the imposed heat flux allowed for the estimation of the critical heat flux for spreading <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msubsup><mover accent="true"><mi>q</mi><mo>˙</mo></mover><mrow><mi>s</mi><mi>p</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>c</mi><mi>r</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>″</mo></mrow></msubsup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> and for ignition <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msubsup><mover accent="true"><mi>q</mi><mo>˙</mo></mover><mrow><mi>i</mi><mi>g</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>c</mi><mi>r</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>″</mo></mrow></msubsup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>; the corresponding temperatures, <i>T<sub>s</sub></i><sub>,<i>min</i></sub> and <i>T<sub>ig</sub></i>; and the flame spread parameter Φ. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:57:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0228eb7febc472baa3e0ee8e8a544e1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-6255 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:57:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fire |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0228eb7febc472baa3e0ee8e8a544e12023-11-19T01:03:10ZengMDPI AGFire2571-62552023-07-016829210.3390/fire6080292Fire Ignition and Propagation in Hidden Zones of Aircrafts: A Novel Confined Fire Apparatus (CFA) for Flame Spreading InvestigationVasiliki N. Papadogianni0Alexandros Romeos1Athanasios Giannadakis2Konstantinos Perrakis3Thrassos Panidis4Mechanical Engineering & Aeronautics Department, University of Patras, 26504 Rio-Patras, GreeceMechanical Engineering & Aeronautics Department, University of Patras, 26504 Rio-Patras, GreeceMechanical Engineering & Aeronautics Department, University of Patras, 26504 Rio-Patras, GreeceMechanical Engineering & Aeronautics Department, University of Patras, 26504 Rio-Patras, GreeceMechanical Engineering & Aeronautics Department, University of Patras, 26504 Rio-Patras, GreeceThis research investigated potential fire hazards originating in hidden areas of pressurized sections of aircrafts. The objective was to establish a laboratory-scale flammability test method to predict the behavior of fire propagation under real fire conditions. A confined fire apparatus (CFA) was designed and constructed, and several tests were conducted to better understand the involved mechanisms and their consequences and to estimate flame spreading in hidden-zone fires. The experimental facility and flame-spreading results obtained for a typical material involved in hidden fires, specifically a ceiling panel, were presented and discussed. The experimental facility consisted of a narrow passage where a fire was initiated using a burner on a specimen exposed to a controlled heat flux. Experiments were conducted in the absence of forced airflow. Flame spreading was estimated through visual monitoring of fire development or temperature measurements at specific locations in the specimen. Both methods yielded similar results. The flame spread velocity in relation to the imposed heat flux allowed for the estimation of the critical heat flux for spreading <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msubsup><mover accent="true"><mi>q</mi><mo>˙</mo></mover><mrow><mi>s</mi><mi>p</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>c</mi><mi>r</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>″</mo></mrow></msubsup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> and for ignition <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msubsup><mover accent="true"><mi>q</mi><mo>˙</mo></mover><mrow><mi>i</mi><mi>g</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>c</mi><mi>r</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>″</mo></mrow></msubsup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>; the corresponding temperatures, <i>T<sub>s</sub></i><sub>,<i>min</i></sub> and <i>T<sub>ig</sub></i>; and the flame spread parameter Φ.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/6/8/292cone calorimeterflame spreadexternal radiationflammability propertiescarbon/Nomex honeycomb composite |
| spellingShingle | Vasiliki N. Papadogianni Alexandros Romeos Athanasios Giannadakis Konstantinos Perrakis Thrassos Panidis Fire Ignition and Propagation in Hidden Zones of Aircrafts: A Novel Confined Fire Apparatus (CFA) for Flame Spreading Investigation Fire cone calorimeter flame spread external radiation flammability properties carbon/Nomex honeycomb composite |
| title | Fire Ignition and Propagation in Hidden Zones of Aircrafts: A Novel Confined Fire Apparatus (CFA) for Flame Spreading Investigation |
| title_full | Fire Ignition and Propagation in Hidden Zones of Aircrafts: A Novel Confined Fire Apparatus (CFA) for Flame Spreading Investigation |
| title_fullStr | Fire Ignition and Propagation in Hidden Zones of Aircrafts: A Novel Confined Fire Apparatus (CFA) for Flame Spreading Investigation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fire Ignition and Propagation in Hidden Zones of Aircrafts: A Novel Confined Fire Apparatus (CFA) for Flame Spreading Investigation |
| title_short | Fire Ignition and Propagation in Hidden Zones of Aircrafts: A Novel Confined Fire Apparatus (CFA) for Flame Spreading Investigation |
| title_sort | fire ignition and propagation in hidden zones of aircrafts a novel confined fire apparatus cfa for flame spreading investigation |
| topic | cone calorimeter flame spread external radiation flammability properties carbon/Nomex honeycomb composite |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/6/8/292 |
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