Post-Crash Fire Forensic Analysis on Aerospace Composites – Literature Review

This report provides an initial literature review detailing the effects of fire on fiber-reinforced composites. This review summarizes the current state of experimental testing on composite materials with applications to commercial aircraft and ships. Additionally, this review includes fire damage mechanisms (i.e., matrix decomposition/pyrolysis, fibers ablation/sublimation, outgassing, delamination, and char formation) that occur when exposing a composite material to controlled open flame or heat fluxes. Non-destructive inspection (NDI) and destructive inspection techniques for assessing the severity and extent of fire damage were incorporated, along with modeling techniques used to predict progressive degradation in composite thermal and mechanical properties as a function of increasing temperature, heat flux, and exposure time. Physical char removal techniques (i.e., dry ice blasting) were studied and included in this literature review. Chemical, combined physical-chemical techniques and commercial cleaning solvents for removing char and other fire by-products were also reviewed.

  • Record URL:
  • Corporate Authors:

    Mississippi State University

    Mississippi State, MS  United States  39762

    Federal Aviation Administration

    800 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, DC  United States  20591

    Federal Aviation Administration

    William J. Hughes Technical Center
    Aviation Research Division
    Atlantic City International Airport, NJ  United States  08405
  • Authors:
    • Righi, Hajar
    • Madabhushi, Abhijith
    • Ouidadi, Hasnaa
    • Boushab, Dounia
    • Lacy, Thomas
    • Kundu, Santanu
    • Pittman, Charles
    • Priddy, Matthew W
  • Publication Date: 2020-8

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Edition: Final Report
  • Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 52p

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01835293
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FAA/TC-20/21
  • Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
  • Created Date: Feb 7 2022 9:41AM