Modelling the heat release rate of aircraft cabin panels in the cone and OSU calorimeters

Abstract A computer model was developed to calculate the heat release rate of aircraft cabin panels in the OSU calorimeter based on their thermophysical, thermochemical and geometrical properties. It calculates the temperature profile through the panel as a function of time and uses the measured kinetic constants of the individual materials to deduce the mass loss rate. The mass loss rate is multiplied by the heat of combustion of the volatiles to obtain the heat release rate which would be measured in the Cone calorimeter. This heat release rate is used in an energy balance at the surface of the specimen to calculate the rise in enthalpy of the flue gases in the OSU calorimeter and thus the specimen's heat release rate in that apparatus. The calculated heat release rates are in reasonable agreement with measurements in the Cone and OSU calorimeters.