Preface 1 Introduction: 1.1 Background 1.2 Fire reaction and fire resistive properties of composites 1.3 Composites and fire 1.4 Case studies of composites in fire 1.5 Concluding remarks References 2Thermal Decomposition of Composites in Fire: 2.1 Introduction2.2. Thermal decomposition mechanisms of organic polymers 2/3 Rate processes and characterisation of decomposition 2.4 Polymers and their decomposition processes 2.5 Fire damage to composites 2.6 Concluding remarks References 3 Fire Reaction Properties of Composites: 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Time-to-ignition 3.3 Heat release rate 3.4 Extinction flammability index & thermal stability index 3.5 Mass loss 3.6 Smoke 3.7 Smoke toxicity 3.8 Limiting oxygen index 3.9 Surface spread of flame 3.10 Fire resistance References 4. Fire Modelling of Composites: 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Thermal exposure 4.3 Modelling material fire dynamics 4.4 Structural modelling of fire response References 5 Modelling the Thermal Response of Composites in Fire: 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Response of composites to fire 5.3 Modelling heat conduction in composites 5.4 Modelling the fire response of composites 5.5 Modelling the thermal properties of composites 5.6 Concluding remarks References 6. Structural Properties of Composites in Fire: 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Laminate properties 6.3 Measurement of elastic constants 6.4 Mechanical properties as a function of temperature 6.5 Modelling of properties 6.6 Fire resistance of laminates under load 6.7 Modelling of fire resistance of laminates under load 6.8 Concluding remarks References 7. Post-Fire Properties of Composites: 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Post-fire properties of laminates 7.3 Modelling the post-fire properties of laminates 7.4 Post-fire properties of sandwich composites 7.5 Post-fire properties of fire protected composites 7.6 Concluding remarks References 8 Flame Retardant Composites: 8.1 Introduction 8.2 The combustion cycle 8.3 Flame retardants for composites 8.4 Flame retardant fillers for composite 8.5 Flame retardant organic polymers for composites 8.6 Flame retardant inorganic polymers for composites 8.7 Flame retardant fibres for composites 8.8 Fire protective surface coatings References 9 Fire Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites: 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Characterization of nanocomposite formation 9.3 Evaluation of fire retardancy 9.4 Clay modifications 9.5 Examples of fire retardancy of polymer nanocomposites 9.6 Mechanisms of fire retardancy in nanocomposites 9.7 Future trends in fire retardancy of nanocomposites References 10 Fire Safety Regulations: 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Fire safety regulations for rail 10.3 Fire safety regulations for automobiles, buses and trucks 10.4 Fire safety regulations for civil infrastructure 10.5 Fire safety regulations for civilian aircraft 10.6 Fire safety regulations for ships and submarines References 11 Fire Tests for Composites: 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Scale of fire reaction tests 11.3 Cone calorimeter 11.4 Atmosphere controlled cone calorimeter 11.5 Intermediate-scale cone calorimeter 11.6 Ohio State University calorimeter 11.7 Limiting oxygen index test 11.8 Flame spread tests 11.9 Smoke density tests 11.10 Furnace tests 11.11 Burn-through & jet-fire tests 11.12 Single burning item test 11.13 Room fire tests 11.14 Structural integrity in fire tests 11.15 Aircraft fire tests 11.16 Concluding remarks References 12 Health Hazards of Composites in Fire: 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Smoke toxicity test methods 12.3 Health hazards of combustion gases 12.4 N-gas model for smoke toxic potency 12.5 Health hazards of fibres 12.6 Personal protective wear against burning composite materials 12.7 Concluding remarks References Subject Index

Fire Properties of Polymer Composite Materials

A theoretical analysis of turbulent jet diffusion flames is developed in which the flame is regarded as an ensemble of laminar diffusion flamelets that are highly distorted. The flow inhomogeneities are considered to be sufficiently strong to produce local quenching events for flamelets as a consequence of excessive flame stretch. The condition for flamelet extinction is derived in terms of the instantaneous scalar dissipation rate, which is ascribed a log-normal distribution. Percolation theory for a random network of stoichiometri c sheets is used to predict quenching thresholds that define liftoff heights. Predictions are shown to be in reasonably satisfactory agreement with experimentally measured liftoff heights of methane jet diffusion flames, within experimental uncertainties. UEL issuing from a tube or duct into an oxidizing atmosphere forms a jet in which combustion may occur. The associated combustion process is the most classical example of a diffusion flame. At sufficiently high velocities of fuel flow (fundamentally, at sufficiently large Reynolds numbers) the entire diffusion flame is turbulent. The turbulent jet diffusion flame begins at the mouth of the duct for a range of values of the exit velocity. When a critical exit velocity is exceeded, the flame abruptly is detached from the duct and acquires a new configuration of stabilization in which combustion begins a number of duct diameters downstream. Flames in this state, stabilized in the mixing region, are termed lifted diffusion flames, and the critical exit velocity at which they appear is called the liftoff velocity. The liftoff height is the centerline distance from the duct exit to the plane of flame stabilization. A further increase in the exit velocity increases the liftoff height without significantly modifying the turbulent flame height (the centerline distance from the duct exit to the plane at which, on the average, combustion ceases). There is a second critical value of the exit velocity, called the blowoff velocity, beyond which the flame cannot be stabilized in the mixing region. The present study addresses questions of the structure of lifted turbulent diffusion flames at exit velocities between liftoff and blowoff values. Attention is focused especially on the calculation of liftoff heights. Liftoff characteristics for turbulent jet diffusion flames are of practical importance in connection with flame stabilization. Conditions for liftoff and blowoff must be known in developing rational designs of burners, e.g., in diffusion-flame combustors for power production or in flaring applications for the petroleum industry. They are also of interest in connection with extinguishment of certain fires that may occur in oil or gas rigs. The present work is directed toward developing an improved fundamental understanding of liftoff phenomena that may later prove useful for these applications.

Liftoff characteristics of turbulent jet diffusion flames

Fire suppression by water sprays

Scaling applications in fire research

A simple procedure is presented for estimating room temperature and the likelihood of the occurrence of flashover in an enclosure. The engineer can use the results for quantitative estimations of the effects of building design and fire load, on the tendency for flashover as defined by a temperature limit.

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Estimating room temperatures and the likelihood of flashover using fire test data correlations

A robust bidirectional low-velocity probe for flame and fire application

Momentum implications for buoyant diffusion flames

Flashover and instabilities in fire behavior

A study was made of the thermal and flow environment within a corridor subject to a room fire of intensities of 300 to 1500 kW approximately. A corresponding model study was done under 1/7th geometric scale. Dimensionless groups were derived from the conservation equations governing the gas and solid phases. A subset of dimensionless groups was identified as significant to establish criteria to maintain partial dynamic scaling between the model and prototype experiments. Good results were achieved between the model and prototype for the convective process, i.e., gas temperature, velocity and convective heat transfer. Radiant heat transfer did not scale, but an analysis of the data explains the lack of agreement in terms of dimensionless groups that were not preserved in scaling. A secondary result yielded corridor convective heat transfer coefficients which could be correlated by a general relationship.

B.J. McCaffrey

Papers

Estimating room temperatures and the likelihood of flashover using fire test data correlations

A robust bidirectional low-velocity probe for flame and fire application

Momentum implications for buoyant diffusion flames

Flashover and instabilities in fire behavior

A Scaling Study of a Corridor Subject to a Room Fire