Investigation of the Structural Degradation and Personnel Hazards Resulting from Helicopter Composite Structures Exposed to Fires and/or Explosions.
Abstract
A program was undertaken to investigate the structural degradation and personnel hazards resulting from exposure of helicopter composite structures to fire and/or explosion. The program consisted of a technical survey, a test program, and an analysis phase. A major part of the technical survey was a literature survey. In addition, organizations working in the fields of interest were contacted for information, and some were visited for further, detailed discussions. The computer programs currently available for modeling enclosure fires were screened, and one was chosen for further study. The test program consisted of a series of tests on two representative helicopter structures: a sheet-stiffened, built-up door of Kevlar 49 fabric impregnated with an epoxy resin, and a honeycomb sandwich fuselage shell structure of graphite/epoxy fabric skins on a Nomex honeycomb core. The tests conducted on materials from these structures were smoke generation tests, and structural degradation tests. Ballistic tests on the complete test article were conducted to determine whether the structures would ignite under HEI impact conditions. Based on the survey and testing, design criteria for structural composite components were investigated and, when appropriate, formulated. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA104757
Entities
People
- Raymond J. Schiltz Jr
Organizations
- Bell Flight