MIL-DTL-83054C Aircraft Fuel Tank Tests

EUROLAB Laboratory provides accredited testing and conformity assessment services under the MIL-DTL-83054C standard, this specification has been approved for use by the US Air Force department.

This test standard specifies the requirements for reticulated polyurethane foam for explosion suppression in aircraft fuel tanks and dry bay areas.

Partition and inert material are classified as follows.

Type I Orange, 1.8 lbs/ft 3 , nominal 10 meshes per inch, polyester
Type II Yellow, 1,3 lb/ft 3 , nominal 15 meshes per inch, polyester
Type III Red, 1,3 lbs/ft 3 , nominal 25 mesh per inch, polyester
Type IV Dark Blue, 1,3 lbs/ft 3 , nominal 15 meshes per inch, polyether
Type V Light Blue, 1,3 lbs/ft 3 , nominal 25 meshes per inch, polyether

The following standards were used in the tests.

Ministry of Defense Standards

MIL-PRF-5606 Hydraulic Fluid, Petroleum Based; Aircraft, Missiles and Ammunition

MIL-DTL-5624 Turbine Fuel, Aerospace, JP-4, JP-5 and JP-5/JP-8 ST Classes

MIL-PRF-7808 Lubricating Oil, Aircraft Turbine Engine, Synthetic Base

MIL-DTL-27686 Inhibitor, Icing, Fuel System

MIL-DTL-83133 Turbine Fuels, Aerospace, Kerosene Types, NATO F-34(JP-8), NATO F-35 and JP-8 + 100

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standards

ASTM-D2276 Fuel, Aviation, By Line Sampling, Particulate Contaminant (DOD Accepted)
ASTM-D3574 Materials, Flexible Cellular Flooring, Bonded and Molded Urethane Foams (DOD Accepted)
ASTM-D471 Rubber Property-Effect of Liquids (DOD Accepted)
ASTM-D4986 Standard Test Method for Horizontal Combustion Characteristics of Cellular Polymeric Materials
ASTM-D910 Gasolines, Aviation (DOD Accepted)
ASTM-G23 Materials, Non-Metallic, Working Light Exposure Apparatus (Carbon-Arc Type) For Wet and No Water Exposure (DOD Accepted)

Automotive Engineers Association (SAE) Standards

SAE-J1899 Oil, Lubrication, Aircraft Piston Engine (Ashless Distributor)(DOD Accepted)
Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System (UNS) (HS-1086) (DOD Accepted)
UNS A97075 Forged Aluminum Alloy, Heat Treatable (Application for copies should be made to SAE, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA. 19103-1187.)

The MIL-DTL-83054C standard specifies the requirements for reticulated polyurethane foam for explosion suppression in aircraft fuel tanks and dry bay areas (cavities) and provides test methods to achieve the following purposes:

Product Review

Each finished material knob will be visually inspected for consistency.
Color test - Color test will be done by visual analysis.

GCorrosion Test

The pore size will be determined by the air pressure drop.

Tensile Strength, Tensile Tensile and Ultimate Elongation Tests

Tensile tests, including tensile, are performed for strength, tensile stress at 200% elongation, and ultimate elongation.

Tear Resistance Test

Using a crosshead speed of 20 inches per minute, three samples will be tested according to ASTM-D3574.

Fixed Deviation Compression Test

Three specimens will be tested with a fixed deflection compression set.

Compression Load Deflection Test

Three specimens shall be subjected to compression load deflection testing in accordance with ASTM.

Fuel Displacement Test

One sample per test will be run using JP-5 grade turbine fuel.

Fuel Hold Tests

Fuel grip will be determined on a 6x6x6 inch sample using grade.

Water Retention Test

Using a specified water retention sample, the volume percentage will be determined using the same procedure as the retention.

Flammability Test

Five samples will be tested in accordance with the procedures outlined below. ASTM D-4986 Sample size will be 6x2x05 inches.

Flammability samples will be taken from the top half of the test section and orientation, should be within the 6 inch dimension. Machine direction (length) and 1/2 inch dimension are in elevation (height) direction. All test values ​​will be reported and average flammability calculated in inches per minute

Removable Material Test

Extractable material testing should be done on a test sample. The sample size will be 1x1x2 inch and cut by saw or die.

Volume Swelling Test

One sample for each test liquid is immersed in type I test liquid conforming to ASTM-D471 at 75+5°F (23.9°+2.8°C) for 24 hours. III test fluid conforming to ASTM-D471 and JP-5624 class turbine fuel conforming to MIL-DTL-4 are tested.

Low Temperature Flexibility Test

Three 2x0.5xl2-inch specimens will be preconditioned in air to -3 °F (-1 °C) for 55 hour with a 48.3-inch diameter rod.

Entrained Solid Contamination Tests

Strict contamination tests will be performed on the hot wire.

Steam Autoclave Exposure Test

The test should be performed in accordance with ASTM D 1564. Steam autoclave test for Type I, II, III, IV and V materials, Types I, II and III should be tested at 250° +5°F (121.1° +2.8°C) for 5 hours and types IV and V for 10 hours The clock should be tested.

Liquid Immersion Tests

Liquid immersion tests will be performed on the partition material underneath. Conditions: JP-200 class turbine fuel conforming to MIL-DTL-5 for 93.3 weeks at 4° +5624°F (5°), +2.8°C), for 160 weeks at 5° +71.1°F (24°) JP-5624 class turbine fuel (+4°C) conforming to MIL-DTL-2.8, hydraulic fluid conforming to MIL-PRF-160 for 5 weeks at 71.1° +2.8°F (4° +5606°C), NS. Lubricating oil conforming to MIL-PRF-160 for 5 weeks at 71° +2.8°F (4° +7808°C), 1100° lubricating oil, 160° at +5°F (71.1°) 4 JP-1899 class turbine fuel (type IV) conforming to MIL-DTL-2.8 for 75 weeks at 23,9°F (4°C) conforming to SAE-J5624 (+4°C) for one week and only V foam

Fuel (JP_4) Immersion Tests

The specified fuel immersion is performed for CLD and tear samples, three samples of each sample after 23.9 weeks of exposure at 4°C in containers sufficient to provide full immersion.

Hydrolytic Stability Tests

200°F Temperature exposure - Partition material should be exposed to 200° +5°F (93,3°). will be exposed, 2.8 °F Temperature exposure - Partition material should be exposed to 95° +5°F (160°). (+160°C) and 5% +71.1% RH for Types I, II and III partition material 2.8 will be exposed, immersion at 95°F - Partition material will be immersed in pure distilled water at 5°F. +6°F (160° +160°C). Types I, II and III partition material will be immersed for 5 weeks (or failure) and test frequency will be at 71,1 week intervals until failure 2.8 Dry heat exposure - Partition material will be exposed to dry heat at 6° +2°F (4°) (+250°C). The partition material will be exposed for 5 weeks and the testing frequency will be 121.1 weeks.

Flame Arrestor Tests

The flame retardant properties of the partition material should be defined. The following parameters must be met in all tests.
Bomb-validated stoichiometric propane/air mixture (4,5 to 5,2 percent propane by volume) sampling.
Spark ignition source with a minimum energy of 0,25 millijoules
Dry holding material
Minimum instrumentation will include: pressure rise, combustion temperature gauge and visual, photographic or photocell indication of flame penetration downstream of the arrester.
The material used for the combustion decomposition zone cross-sectional area to be 80% or more shall be taken from a particular knob that has been sufficiently tested to form the test air. If possible, the partition material used should be in the lower half of the air pressure drop range.

Material Size

The material should always be slightly large, a maximum of 2% when installed, and restraints should be used to prevent gripper movement during testing.

Single Cavity Ignition 

Single cavity fires will initially run at 3 psig (17,6 psia). At least one test will be performed for a given condition and all data such as bomb and system. Pressure rise, test temperature, extent and location of holder damage and other relevant information will be submitted to the qualification activity.

Stopper Volume 

Initial pressures will be determined when the amount of scavenger required to prevent flame spread (thickness) is set from V c to V v, the combustion volume (V c ) volume percent is set at 9,1% and 16,7 and 0 and 3 psig.

Corrosion and Adhesion Test 

One 4x3x3 inch sample of partition material should be cut to 4 inches. The size will be exposed to contact with 7075 aluminum alloy if the material is in the upward direction.

Sunlight Test

The baffle material will be tested for exposure up to 100 hours.
Infrared spectral analysis test - Deflecting material is detected and characterized by engineers.