A STUDY OF THE FIRE RESISTANCE OF ALUMINUM ALLOY TUBING AND FITTINGS.
Abstract
A series of fire tests was conducted on aircraft aluminum alloy 5052-0 (formerly 52S) tubing and standard AN aluminum fittings. Tests consisted of subjecting specimens to a 2000F flame from a standard 2-gph kerosene torch. The degree of fire resistance of tubing and coupling test specimens was determined for conditions of zero-flow and intermediate-flow rates up to a maximum rate in gallons per minute of five times the square of the inside diameter in inches. Oil and aviation gasoline at ambient temperatures and oil preheated to 200F were used as the circulating fluids during testing. The investigation covered tube sizes from 1/4 to 2 in. in diameter. Aluminum tubing containing no fluid exhibited very little fire resistance; whereas, tubing containing fluid but without flow showed an increase in fire resistance with eventual failure. Under this latter test condition, the use of fire-retardant coatings on tube samples did not result in any significant increase in fire resistance. Test results revealed that aircraft aluminum tubing retained a high degree of fire resistance as long as fluid continued to circulate through the tubing to conduct heat away from the wall surface. Couplings of 3/4-in. size and larger leaked at all flow rates tested. Couplings under 3/4-in. size exhibited no signs of leakage. Subsequent inspection of all couplings after testing revealed no signs of damage or deformation. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0654550
Entities
People
- Paul N. Boris