Analyzing the thermal protective performance of single layer garment materials in bench scale and manikin tests

This research analyzes factors contributing to the thermal protective performance of thermal resistant fabrics in TPP tests and in full scale manikin tests against simulated flash fire exposures. Mechanisms controlling the performance of aramid, aramid/PBI and FR cotton fabrics in TPP tests are analyzed. Data for TPP test was acquired by a specially developed software for this research. Experimental results demonstrate the importance of testing configurations related to the spacing between the heat sensors and test specimens. An analytical heat transfer model is developed to account for the temperatures in the fabrics during TPP exposures and the resulting comparisons between materials that responds differently in thermal assaults.;Material performance in full scale fire tests with an instrumented manikin are examined in light of critical test variables. The effects of thermal exposure on predicted burn injury are shown to relate to differences between thermal protective mechanisms evident in TPP and manikin tests are explained. The effect of garment fit in manikin tests is investigated using materials with different levels of thermal shrinkage stability.