| A cotton-fiberglass fabric was chosen to accommodate the unique hardware of the Solid Inflammability Boundary At Low-speed (SIBAL) project. The performance of prototype hardware was evaluated, then used to select the fuel. The burning characteristics of a variety of fuels were examined. The chosen fuel was 50% cotton, 50% fiberglass with each thread containing a fiberglass core surrounded by cotton fibers. Normal gravity combustion tests were performed to provide a basis for the eventual microgravity tests and for the numerical model. These tests were used to examine flame spread rates, flammability limits, qualitative flame behavior, and surface emissions using an infrared camera. A unique feature, termed one-sided burning, was observed when the flame ignited and propagated on one side of the fuel. Further experimentation indicated that the unburned material acted as a flame arrester. A large enough hole in the fuel allowed the flame to transfer to the other side. |
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