Material Properties that Control Ignition and Spread of a Fire in Micro-Gravity Environments

Abstract

A study of the different mechanisms controlling the initial stages of a fire in a micro-gravity environment is presented. Three different processes are deemed important for evaluation of material flammability, piloted ignition, co-current and counter-current flame spread. The three processes are evaluated in terms of thermal theory and the different material properties controlling these combustion processes are extracted. Experimental results obtained from ground testing, drop towers, parabolic flights and sounding rocket experiments serve to validate the present approach.