The Discussion Of Aircraft Fuel Tank Fire Safety Performance Verification Methods

Since1959, the aircraft fuel tank lighted accidents statistics shown that the fuel tanklighted accidents were the catastrophic events in aircraft safety operation process. Widelyused composite materials in specific modulus, specific strength and corrosion resistantproperties are better than metals. These accidents were always got high attention by aviationsafety fields. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continuous fixed the airworthiness rulesto satisfy the aircraft safe operation by reducing these risksFirstly, in this artical, based on accident investigations main influence facts of the fueltank fire safety were electrical arcs and sparks, filament heating, friction sparks, and hotsurface ignition or auto-ignition. Using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) analysedeach of the function equipment to find out the failure mode in different risk status. The articlequantified the failure mode level in Risk Priority Number by three elements method risk stateevaluative criteria. Then this article provided a systematic analysis method of the aircraft fueltank fire safety.Secondly, this paper applied shrinkage ratio aircraft fuel tank experiment method. Thefuel tank plate use T3003k Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer(CFRP), and the thickness ofthe composite materials were2mm,4mm and6mm. Using thermal radiation to Simulateshrinkage ratio fuel tank (500*500*500mm) wall board to accept the heat radiation1hour,and using and alcohol blast burner, bunsen burner and pool fire to burn bottom wall plateunder until5minutes or burning through. During this time, the test plate center temperature,fuel surface temperature, fuel steam temperature and steam pressure were synchronousrecorded by Data Acquisition Unit. Through the experiment in the expected time CFRPperformance met the FAR25about aluminum magnesium alloy fuel tank for preventing fueltank explosion and maintains the tank structural strength requirements.Finally, the artical applied Fluent simulating software to discuss shrinkage ratio aircraftfuel tank experiment method and temperature field. During this time, calculated plate center temperature, fuel surface temperature and fuel steam temperature. Comparing with test data,the results were basically the same trend, but there were still some residuals. In the end,according to experimental data correct calculation method. To simulate a larger percentage orfull size composite fuel tank fire experiment provides calculation method.