THE MOTOR VEHICLE IN THE POST-CRASH ENVIRONMENT, AN UNDERSTANDING OF IGNITION PROPERTIES OF SPILLED FUELS

The flammability of common automotive fluids under real-world conditions has not been well-characterized for general use in the automotive community. This paper presents the results of a research program aimed at providing a greater understanding of the potential fire hazards of common fluids carried on board today's vehicles. A literature review was conducted to define the ignition properties of common automotive fluids as determined very precisely in the laboratory environment. A test program was then established to gain insight into the ignition properties of common automotive fluids under different conditions. Automotive engine and exhaust components were used to create a test mechanism that realistically represented the environment, temperatures, and surfaces to which vehicle fluids may be subjected. The reported laboratory results were compared with the test data. Tests were conducted on 12 fluids with and without ignition sources present. The results stated whether each of these fluids was found to ignite under test conditions. For each of the fluids that did ignite, the lowest temperature at which ignition occurred was recorded. Results show that for a variety of potentially spilled automotive fluids, a wide range of ignition properties exists.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0768003652
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was presented in the Safety Technology session of the 1999 SAE International Congress and Exposition and is included in the SAE Special Publication, "Advances in Safety Technology 1999" (SP-1433).
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • ARNDT, S M
  • STEVENS, D C
  • ARNDT, M W
• Conference:
  • 1999 SAE International Congress and Exposition
  • Location: Detroit, Michigan , United States
  • Date: 1999-3-1 to 1999-3-4
• Publication Date: 1999-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 103-118
• Serial:
  • SAE Special Publications
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic transmissions; Brake fluids; Chemical spills; Coolants; Diesel fuels; Engine oils; Flammability; Flammability tests; Flammable liquids; Fuels; Gasoline; Grease; Ignition; Laboratory tests; Power steering; Traffic crashes; Windshield washers
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I90: Vehicles;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00768958
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0768003652
• Report/Paper Numbers: 1999-01-0086
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 28 1999 12:00AM