Dr. Heather L Garten
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
Garten Solutions, LLC
heather@gartensolutionsllc.com
UNLIMITED POTENTIALS WITH FIRE
SCIENCE
OUTLINE
Background
 Current Research
 Goals for this project

 Successes
due to this beginning research
Goals for Future Projects
 ERAU Worldwide Fire Science
 Questions/Comments

BACKGROUND (1)

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Battery Fires 2013
 January
7-Japan Airlines at Logan
 January 9-United Airlines reports problem with
wiring
 January 11-FAA announces comprehensive review
BACKGROUND (2)
Mark Severson’s Research
 The Application of Advanced Composites for the
Construction of Commercial Transport Aircraft

 How
do we form a universal test for approving
composite materials for aircraft use?
 DAMAGE DETECTION/STRUCTURAL HEALTH
 Research
suggested the FAA continue to modify their
testing of composite materials


Review industry standards versus FAA standards
(New) Sound wave testing
BACKGROUND(3)

ERAU Worldwide Fire Science Program
 Partner
with DFW Fire Training Research Center
 A-380
Trainer
 Hydrocarbon Pit
Heat associated with an actual Fire
 Environmentally friendly

BACKGROUND(4)
Putting it all together:
 Composite materials are quickly becoming
integrated into aircrafts

 ~50%
of aircraft parts are now composite
 Light

weight, high strength, and corrosion resistant
Fire fighting techniques quickly changing
 Demand
methods
for greater environmentally friendly
CURRENT RESEARCH ON COMPOSITES AND
FIRE
CURRENT RESEARCH (1)

April 2013 Boeing Fire Department Release
 50%

of Boeing 787 Composite (777 had 11%)
http://www.boeing.com/assets/pdf/commercial/airports/faqs/787_composite_arff_data.pdf
CURRENT RESEARCH (2)

Boeing April 2013 Release:
 Composites
 Cutting
do not hinder firefighting
through the Carbon Laminate Fuselage is easily
accomplished
 Composites do not aid in the spread of fire
 Composite fuselage has longer burn time than aluminum
AND transfers heat at a slower rate than aluminum
FIRE HAZARDS AND UNDETECTED COMPOSITE
DAMAGE
FIRE HAZARDS AND DAMAGE (1)

If there is undetected damage, how does this
affect fire fighting?
 Are
their dangers when cutting through the
fuselage?
 Potential risks with pressure from the heat?
 Heathrow
incident fire burned through the carbon-fiber
How fire resistant is it really?
 What temperatures are we looking at?
 If an anomaly, perhaps undetected damage?

ARE THERE UNFORESEEN HEALTH RISKS?
HEALTH CONCERN (1)

The research on health risks with Carbon
Composite fires suggests more research is
needed
 Carbon
fibers released into the air during
combustion
 Fibers
contain toxic organic compounds
 Current research shows some fibers are small enough to
be inhaled deep into the lungs

Would this number increase with longer burn times? Higher
burn temperatures?
HEALTH CONCERNS (2)

Possible chemical interaction between foam
and composites
 Not
much research here
 Safety for both passengers and fire-fighters

Technology changes rapidly
 Both
foam and composites
 How
do we quickly test and mitigate before
implementation?
THE ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENT (1)

Interaction of foam and carbon fibers
 Follow-on
from health concern
 Unforeseen damage to the atmosphere?
 Currently
research demonstrates the environmental
safety of foam

Concern lies within the rapid introduction of composites
ENVIRONMENT (2)

Incineration of carbon fiber not recommended
for disposal
 Releases
 Can
small electrical conductive fibers
cause interference issues
 Success here: Company contacted me after webinar
 Circuit board continued to malfunction
 Found carbon fibers in circuit board
 Hypothesis: Fibers small enough to incinerate
from heat of board/device thus releasing
electrical interference
ENVIRONMENT (3)

Incineration of carbon fiber not recommended
for disposal continued…
 Greater
issues given the probable location of the
fire: Airport
 Fire
onboard the plane: Would this pose a potential issue
when trying to contact the plane?
FUTURE TOPICS TO EXPLORE
FUTURE TOPICS (1)

SPACE
 Space
travel IS our present and future
 How
do composites withstand atmospheric pressure
changes?

Dangers involved with undetected damage
 Proper
attire for space travel
Everyday people-MARKETING MARKETING MARKETING
 Need to combine the knowledge of fashion engineers and
aerospace engineers to make this happen

FUTURE TOPICS (2)

SPACE Continued
 Fires
on these newly designed shuttles
 Wide
open for research innovation!!!
 Space
X, Blue Origin, and many others are
partnering with local schools to enable projects to
go into space
 Great
opportunity to expand your research
FUTURE TOPICS (3)

Cargo
 Plant
and animals are being viewed differently
 Ensure
cargo safety and care just as with humans
 Australia is at the forefront of animal care combined with
travel
 SHRM found employees are positively impacted by
environmental efforts at workplace
 Carbon
 If
fiber release in fires
plant/animal cargo inhale, what are dangers (or maybe
benefits!) to humans?
FUTURE TOPICS (4)

Music is a mathematical marvel
 How
can we apply this to testing composites for
damage?
 Already being looked into
 Certain
pitches are used more today than in the past
three centuries
 Z12 Entropy-how many times the pitch occurs

Reason? Sure there is! 
 Sound
needs a greater research outlet in all areas:
Medicine, aerospace, agriculture, etc.
ERAU FIRE SCIENCE PROGRAM:
THE PERFECT PACKAGE FOR RESEARCH
FIRE SCIENCE
BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE DEGREE
Program Chair: Dr. Ron Wakeham
Associate Chairs: Dr. Rene Herron
MS. M.K. Gorman
Dr. John Griffith
Fire Science Degree Related Occupations
• Public Safety Professionals
• Fire Service, Emergency Management, Medical
Response, Dispatch
• Hazardous Materials
• Engineering
• Public Safety Administration
• Forestry
• Environmental Consulting
• Occupational Health & Safety
• Aviation Operations Manager/Security
• FESHE Recognized
•National Fire Academy certificates awarded
with successful completion of FESHE courses
• SACS Accredited
•Regionally accredited by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools
• 100% ONLINE
•Taught by experts in field
• 2 Specializations
•Aviation Emergency Management
•Fire & Emergency Services
•
ERAU – Worldwide and Dallas/Fort Worth Fire Training
Research Center (DFW FTRC) have a Cooperative
Agreement.
Specific courses taken at DFW FTRC can count toward
credit within Fire Science program at ERAU – Worldwide.
• Program specifics
• General Ed
• Program credits
• Open electives
• Specified electives
36 credits
51 credits
15 credits
9 credits
TOTAL
120 credits
Agreements:
• Signed
• DFW Fire & Research Training Facility
• Technical Schools in State of Georgia
• HOPE scholarship approved
• In pipeline
• Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF)
• FDNY
• Various Community Colleges
(examples: Allegheny, Greenville Technical, Prairie State,
etc.)
QUESTIONS?
Dr. Heather L Garten
heather@gartensolutionsllc.com
817.818.7474