Analysis of the Thermal Response of Parachute Fabrics in Crash-Fire Environments

Abstract

A theoretical study was performed to evaluate the thermal performance of the Air Force C-9 personnel parachute and various parachute materials during encounters with JP-4 aircraft crash fires. The objectives of this study were to Develop an analytical model of a parachute encounter with a fire; determine what parameters are critical to thermal response; provide a relative measure of thermal performance of Nylon, Nomex and PBI; assess the range of failure conditions. These were accomplished by developing a computer model of the crash fire, the parachute material and configuration, and the trajectory simulating the heating and thermal response of a parachute during descent. With regard to the three fabrics considered, both Nomex and PBI exhibit improved thermal tolerance over Nylon, retaining strength to several hundred degrees (F) above Nylon.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1974
Accession Number
ADA004133

Entities

People

  • B. Laub
  • K. A. Green
  • K. J. Clark

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Boundary Layer
  • Burning Rate
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Combustion
  • Combustion Products
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Heat Transfer
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Measurement
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Optical Properties
  • Pressure Distribution
  • Stratified Fluids
  • Tensile Strength
  • Test Facilities

Readers

  • Fire Suppression Systems Design.
  • Materials Science
  • Structural Dynamics.