Abstract
The following programme of research is to define thermal analysis criteria to be used as part of the design process for evaluation of the fire safety standard of structural components.The driving force behind the project is the necessity to produce more detailed analysis of fire propagation and heat transfer within the 'zone one' of an engine nacelle for certification purposes. However, due to the expensive procedure of carrying out fire tests on a full-scale model under real life conditions, an alternative computational approach is being sought, thus hoping to reduce the overall cost. Although it is thought that the CFD approach will never completely replace the experimental tests, it is considered that the CFD will help fire testing to be carried out more efficiently and enhance our knowledge of the complex
nature of fire propagation.
A Navier-Stokes computational analysis of fire propagation within 'zone one' of an engine nacelle is presented. The predictions are compared with detailed experimental data from fire test simulations conducted by British Aerospace, for the purpose of validation and assessment of predictive tools. The results from the CFD analysis thus far have been qualitatively comparable with the experimental findings, in relation to the explosive and sustained combustion nature of the zone when flammable vapours build up within it. In its assessment, the CFD analysis displayed many of the characteristics and phenomena associated with the explosive and sustained combustion scenarios when the flammability spectrum is traversed. With the publication of more direct and relevant data, and subsequent validation, field models may be recommended for future quantitative hazard prediction.
| Date of Award | Jul 2000 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Sponsors | Co-operative Award in Science and Technology (CAST) |
| Supervisor | Srinivasan Raghunathan (Supervisor) & D. Riordan (Supervisor) |