Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-5g6vh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-27T05:00:45.369Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The use of evacuation modelling techniques in the design of very large transport aircraft and blended wing body aircraft

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

E. R. Galea
Affiliation:
Fire Safety Engineering Group, The University of Greenwich, London, UK
S. J. Blake
Affiliation:
Fire Safety Engineering Group, The University of Greenwich, London, UK
S. Gwynne
Affiliation:
Fire Safety Engineering Group, The University of Greenwich, London, UK
P. J. Lawrence
Affiliation:
Fire Safety Engineering Group, The University of Greenwich, London, UK

Abstract

Very Large Transport Aircraft (VLTA) pose considerable challenges to designers, operators and certification authorities. Questions concerning seating arrangement, nature and design of recreational space, the number, design and location of internal staircases, the number of cabin crew required and the nature of the cabin crew emergency procedures are just some of the issues that need to be addressed. Other more radical concepts such as blended wing body (BWB) design, involving one or two decks with possibly four or more aisles offer even greater challenges. Can the largest exits currently available cope with passenger flow arising from four or five aisles? Do we need to consider new concepts in exit design? Should the main aisles be made wider to accommodate more passengers? In this paper we demonstrate how computer based evacuation models can be used to investigate these issues through examination of staircase evacuation procedures for VLTA and aisle/exit configuration for BWB cabin layouts.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2003 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Blake, S.J., Galea, E.R., Gwynne, S., Lawrence, P.J. and Filippidis, L., Examining the effect of exit separation on aircraft evacuation performance during 90-second certification trials using evacuation modelling techniques, January 2002, Aeronaut J, 106, (1055), pp 116.Google Scholar
2. Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 25, Section 83.Google Scholar
3. Learmount, D., Big on safety, Flight International, June 2001, pp 1218,Google Scholar
4. Kingsley-Jones, M., Size or Speed, Flight International, 4-10 Sept 2001, pp 5173.Google Scholar
5. Lauber, J.K. A380 safety and evacuation — meeting the challenge, Presented at the Southern California Safety Institute 19th Annual Aircraft Cabin Safety Symposium, LA, California, 2002.Google Scholar
6. Owen, M., Galea, E.R. and Dixon, A.J.P., 90-second Certification trial data archive report, March 1999, Prepared for the UK CAA for project 049/SRG/R&AD.Google Scholar
7. Finney, K., Galea, E.R., Gwynne, S. and Dixon, A.J.P., Analysis of 90-second certification trial data, Report in preparation 2002.Google Scholar
8. FAR part 25: Transport Category Airplanes. as published in the Federal Register on 1 December 2001, Washington DC, USA.Google Scholar
9. Puals, J. Chapter in The SFPE handbook of fire Protection Engineering, 1995 published by the Nation Fire Protection Association, 2nd ed, ISBN 0-87765-354-2.Google Scholar
10. Côte, R. (Ed) Life Safety Code Handbook, 1997, Published by the Nation Fire Protection Association, 7th ed, ISBN 8-87765-425-5.Google Scholar
11. Pollard, D.W., Garner, J.D., Blethrow, J.G. and Lowrey, D.L., Passenger flow rates between compartments: Straight-segmented stairways, spiral stairways, and passageways with restricted vision and changes of attitude, 1978, FAA CAMI, Technical Report, FAA-AM-78-3,.Google Scholar
12. Owen, M., Galea, E.R. and Lawrence, P.J., The Exodus evacuation model applied to building evacuation scenarios, 1996, J Fire Protection Eng, 8, (2), pp 6586.Google Scholar
13. Gwynne, S., Galea, E.R., Owen, M. and Filippidis, L., A systematic comparison of model predictions produced by the buildingEXODUS evacuation model and the Tsukuba pavilion evacuation data, 1998, Applied Fire Science, 7, (3), pp 235266.Google Scholar
14. Gwynne, S., Galea, E.R., Lawrence, P.J. and Filippidis, L., Modelling occupant interaction with fire conditions using the buildingEXODUS model, 2001, Fire Safety J, 36, pp 327357.Google Scholar
15. Galea, E.R., A general approach to validating evacuation models with an application to EXODUS, Sept/Oct 1998, J Fire Sciences, 16, pp 414436.Google Scholar
16. Galea, E.R., Safer by design: Using computer simulation to predict the evacuation performance of passenger ships, 2000, in Proc IMarE Conf 112, (2), Safety of large passenger ships, London, ISBN 1-902536-31-2, pp 2332.Google Scholar
17. Galea, E.R., Gwynne, S., Blackshields, D., Lawrence, P. and Filippidis, L., Predicting the evacuation performance of passenger ships using computer simulation, Interflam 2001, Proceedings 9th International Fire Science and Engineering Conference, ISBN 0 9532312 7 5, pp 853864.Google Scholar
18. Galea, E.R. and Galprarsoro, J.M.P., EXODUS: An evacuation model for mass transport vehicles, 1993, Technical Report, UK CAA Paper 93006, ISBN 086039 543X.Google Scholar
19. Owen, M., Galea, E.R., Lawrence, P.J. and Filippidis, L., The numerical simulation of aircraft evacuation and its application to aircraft design and certification, 1998, Aeronaut J, 102, (1016), pp 301312.Google Scholar
20. Galea, E.R., Owen, M. and Lawrence, P., The role of evacuation modelling in the development of safer air travel, 1997, AGARD-CP-857, proceedings of AGARD PEP 88th Meeting on Aircraft Fire Safety, Dresden, 14-18 October 1996, 36-136-13.Google Scholar
21. Galea, E.R., Owen, M. and Lawrence, P., Computer modelling of human behaviour in aircraft fire accidents, 1996, Toxicology, 115, (1-3), pp 6378.Google Scholar
22. Galea, E.R., Blake, S.J. and Lawrence, P.J., The airEXODUS evacuation model and its application to aircraft safety, 2001, Presented at FAA/JAA conference in Atlantic City, October 2001, to appear in conference proceedings and official FAA/JAA aviation report.Google Scholar
23. Owen, M., Galea, E.R., Lawrence, P.J., and Filippidis, L., AASK — aircraft accident statistical knowledge: a database of human experience in evacuation reports, 1998, Aeronaut J, 102, (1018), pp 353363.Google Scholar
24. Galea, E.R., Cooney, D., Dixon, A., Finney, K. and Siddiqui, A., The AASK database — aircraft accident statistics and knowledge: A database to record human experience of evacuation in aviation accidents. April 2000, Report for UK CAA project 277/SRG/R+AD.Google Scholar
25. Muir, H. and Cobbet, A., Influence of cabin crew during emergency evacuations at floor level exits, 1996, Technical CAA Paper 95006, Parts A+B, ISBN 0 86039 649 5.Google Scholar
26. 767-300 Full scale evacuation demonstration FAA/JAA certification, Boeing Proprietary Report of the full scale evacuation demonstration performed on 11 February, 1995.Google Scholar
27. 747-121 Full scale evacuation demonstration FAA/JAA certification, Boeing Proprietary Report of the full scale evacuation demonstration performed on 16 November, 1969.Google Scholar
28. Runway collision of USAir Flight 1493, Boeing 737 and Skywest Flight 5569 Fairchild Metroliner at Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California, 1 February, 1991. National Transport Safety Board (NTSB), Washington, DC, NTSB/AAR-91/08.Google Scholar
29. Air Canada Flight 797 McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32, G-FTLU Greater Cincinnati international Airport, Covington, Kentucky, 2 June 1983, National Transport Safety Board (NTSB), Washington, DC, NTSB/AAR-84/09.Google Scholar
30. Runway Departure following landing American Airline flight 102 McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30, N139AA Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Texas, April 14, 1993, Nation Transport Safety Board (NTSB), Washington, DC NTSB/AAR-94/01.Google Scholar
31. Survival Factors Specialist’s factual Report Accident Number MKC88FA154: United Airlines Boeing B-737-222 at Little Rock, Arkansas on August 10th 1988, Nation Transport Safety Board (NTSB), Washington, DC, NTSB accident number: MKC88FA154.Google Scholar
32. McCormick, M.M. Survival Factors Group Chairman’s factual report of American Airline, DC-10-10, N129, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 27 June, 1985, Nation Transport Safety Board (NTSB), Washington, DC.Google Scholar
33. 747 Full Scale Evacuation Demonstration FAA/JAA Certification, Boeing Proprietary Report, Full Scale Evacuation Demonstration performed on 3 May, 1973 Google Scholar
34. Blake, S.J., Galea, E.R., Gwynne, S., and Dixon, A.J.P., Flow rates of passengers at exits and aisles during 90-second certification trials, Report in preparation, 2002 Google Scholar
35. FAR Part 25. Appendix J Airworthiness Standards: Transport Category Airplanes, Including amendment 25-98 as published in the Federal Register on 8 Februar, 1999, Washington DC, USA.Google Scholar
36. NTSB Special Investigation Report: Flight attendant training and performance during emergency situations, Special Investigation Report for the Nation Transport Safety Board (NTSB), Washington, DC 20594, PB92-917006 NTSB/SIR-92/02.Google Scholar
37. The runway over-run of World Airways flight 30 at Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts on 23 January 1982, National Transport Safety Board (NTSB), Washington, DC, NTSB-AAR-82-15.Google Scholar
38. Blake, S.J., Galea, E.R., Gwynne, S. and Lawrence, P.J., The development of a prototype cabin management model for use within 90-second certification trials using the airEXODUS mathematical model. Paper in preparation 2002.Google Scholar
39. HMSO, The Building Regulations 1991, Approved Document B, Section B1, HMSO Publications, London.Google Scholar