Master of Science / Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering / Mohammad H. Hosni / Byron W. Jones / With the increasing number of passengers traveling on commercial aircraft, it is important to mitigate the possibility of diseases and contaminants spreading throughout aircraft cabins and becoming harmful to the health of passengers. The ventilation system on a Boeing 767 aircraft is designed to create lateral flow to isolate contaminants to a single row of the cabin and remove the harmful air quickly. There are many variables that can influence the airflow patterns inside the cabin. The thermal plumes created by occupants are one of the variables investigated in this experimentation. Another special case investigated is the transport of gases in the cabin when the ventilation air is eliminated. Experimentation is performed in a mock-up Boeing 767 cabin. The mock-up enclosure consists of 11 rows and 7 columns of seats in each row. Ventilation apparatus, seating, and cabin dimensions used for testing are all representative of an actual aircraft. Thermal manikins are placed in the cabin seats to simulate the heat load from a seated person. A mixture of carbon dioxide (CO²) and helium (He) is injected into the cabin as a tracer gas to simulate the release of contaminants. The CO² concentration is measured by analyzers placed at the cabin inlet, exhaust, and seat of interest. The tracer gas can be injected and sampled at any of the 77 seats. In order to determine the effects of passenger density, testing is performed with maximum occupant load and repeated with half of the passenger load. Tracer gas is injected in three locations of the cabin and sampled in 32 seats for each injection seat. The testing revealed a significant effect of passenger load on airflow patterns. To determine the effects of removing the ventilation air, the cabin is supplied with 1400 cfm of outdoor air at 60°F for three hours to bring the cabin to a steady state temperature. Then, the supply air is shut off, and tracer gas is injected into the cabin and the CO² concentration is sampled at 12 locations throughout the cabin. It was found that contaminants are still transported throughout the cabin without the ventilation air.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Mechanical Engineering / Steven J. Eckels / Byron W. Jones / Poor air quality in commercial aircraft cabins can be caused by volatile organophosphorus (OP) compounds emitted from the jet engine bleed air system during smoke/fume incidents. Tri-cresyl phosphate (TCP), a common anti-wear additive in turbine engine oils, is an important component in today’s global aircraft operations. However, exposure to TCP increases risks of certain adverse health effects. This research analyzed used aircraft cabin air filters for jet engine oil contaminants and designed a jet engine bleed air simulator (BAS) to replicate smoke/fume incidents caused by pyrolysis of jet engine oil. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and neutron activation analysis (NAA) were used for elemental analysis of filters, and gas chromatography interfaced with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to analyze used filters to determine TCP isomers. The filter analysis study involved 110 used and 74 incident filters. Clean air filter samples exposed to different bleed air conditions simulating cabin air contamination incidents were also analyzed by FESEM/EDS, NAA, and GC/MS. Experiments were conducted on a BAS at various bleed air conditions typical of an operating jet engine so that the effects of temperature and pressure variations on jet engine oil aerosol formation could be determined. The GC/MS analysis of both used and incident filters characterized tri-m-cresyl phosphate (TmCP) and tri-p-cresyl phosphate (TpCP) by a base peak of an m/z = 368, with corresponding retention times of 21.9 and 23.4 minutes. The hydrocarbons in jet oil were characterized in the filters by a base peak pattern of an m/z = 85, 113. Using retention times and hydrocarbon thermal conductivity peak (TCP) pattern obtained from jet engine oil standards, five out of 110 used filters tested had oil markers. Meanwhile 22 out of 74 incident filters tested positive for oil fingerprints. Probit analysis of jet engine oil aerosols obtained from BAS tests by optical particle counter (OPC) revealed lognormal distributions with the mean (range) of geometric mass mean diameter (GMMD) = 0.41 (0.39, 0.45) [mu]m and geometric standard deviation (GSD), [sigma][subscript]g = 1.92 (1.87, 1.98). FESEM/EDS and NAA techniques found a wide range of elements on filters, and further investigations of used filters are recommended using these techniques. The protocols for air and filter sampling and GC/MS analysis used in this study will increase the options available for detecting jet engine oil on cabin air filters. Such criteria could support policy development for compliance with cabin air quality standards during incidents.

Master of Science / Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering / Mohammad H. Hosni / Each year millions of people travel by commercial aircrafts. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics indicates that about 600 million passengers fly each year in the United States and, of those, roughly 350,000 are international travelers. This number of travelers leaves commercial airliners potentially vulnerable to biological contamination and makes the transmission of diseases a serious threat. The spread of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and H1N1 (swine flu) are examples of documented cases. Consequently, considerable research has been and continues to be conducted to study and understand particulate transport mechanisms and dispersion behavior inside aircraft cabins to develop means for detecting, controlling, and removing contaminants from aircraft cabins and to find methods for preventing the aircraft from being used for intentional contaminant deployment. In order to develop means to monitor and control air quality, infectious disease transmission, and particulate transport inside aircraft cabins, an experimental study was conducted to determine the best sensor placement locations for detection and to identify the number of sensors needed to accurately track air quality incidents within a cabin. An 11-row mockup, intended to be representative of a typical wide-body aircraft, was used for the research. The mockup interior is based on the actual dimensions of the Boeing 767 aircraft cabin. Inside the mockup cabin, actual aircraft equipment including seats and air diffusers were used. Each row has seven passenger seats. Particulates were released from different locations in the second row of the mockup cabin. The transported particles were then collected at six different locations in the lateral direction. The best location to place a sensor was defined as the location having the strongest signal (maximum number of particles collected) or the fastest detection time. After determining the best location in the lateral direction, particles were collected at the same location, but in different rows to estimate the differences between the signal strength and the delay time in detecting the signal from row to row. For the later investigation, the particulates were released in Row 2 and in Row 6 as well. For the six locations examined, it was found that the best location for the placement of a sensor in the 11-row mockup in the lateral direction is on the centerline near the cabin floor. Longitudinally, it was found that a sensor may be used for detecting particulates in the same row as the release and a row in front and in back of the release location. For the mockup cabin, a total of 4 sensors was recommended to monitor particulate releases in the 11 row mockup cabin, each of these sensors separated by two rows.

Die globale Erwärmung als auch neue Regularien und Richtlinien zwingen die Flugzeughersteller und die Fluggesellschaften ihre Emissionen über den kompletten Life-Cycle einen Flugzeuges zu reduzieren. Über den Life-Cycle eines Flugzeuges gesehen, fallen während der Nutzungsphase eines Flugzeuges mit 98% CO2 die meisten Emissionen an (Airbus Operations GmbH 2009). Dementsprechend stellt die Nutzungsphase den größten Hebel dar, um eine deutliche Senkung der Emissionen umzusetzen. Nach dem Advisory Council for Aeronautics in Europe (ACARE) lässt sich eine Reduktion der Emissionen während der Nutzungsphase vorzugsweise durch aerodynamische Verbesserungen, eine Gewichtsreduktion, neue Flugzeugkonzepte und eine erhöhte Kapazität innerhalb der Flugzeugkabine umsetzen (ACARE 2002). [... aus dem Text]

Die globale Erwärmung als auch neue Regularien und Richtlinien zwingen die Flugzeughersteller und die Fluggesellschaften ihre Emissionen über den kompletten Life-Cycle einen Flugzeuges zu reduzieren. Über den Life-Cycle eines Flugzeuges gesehen, fallen während der Nutzungsphase eines Flugzeuges mit 98% CO2 die meisten Emissionen an (Airbus Operations GmbH 2009). Dementsprechend stellt die Nutzungsphase den größten Hebel dar, um eine deutliche Senkung der Emissionen umzusetzen. Nach dem Advisory Council for Aeronautics in Europe (ACARE) lässt sich eine Reduktion der Emissionen während der Nutzungsphase vorzugsweise durch aerodynamische Verbesserungen, eine Gewichtsreduktion, neue Flugzeugkonzepte und eine erhöhte Kapazität innerhalb der Flugzeugkabine umsetzen (ACARE 2002). [... aus dem Text]

As pessoas estão cada vez mais viajando de avião e, muitas vezes, em viagens longas. A qualidade do ar torna-se uma questão crucial. Uma forma de melhorar a qualidade do ar e as condições de conforto térmico dentro de uma cabine de aeronave está na utilização de novos sistemas de ventilação personalizada. O objetivo do presente trabalho consiste na análise experimental da influência de um sistema de ventilação personalizada (PV) na concentração, dispersão e remoção de partículas expiratórias em cabine de aeronave com sistema por mistura (MV) e por deslocamento (DV). Os ensaios foram realizados em um mock-up de cabine de aeronave comercial de 12 assentos, com 4 assentos por fileira. O ar foi insuflado na cabine a 18°C pelo sistema MV ou DV, correspondendo a uma leve sensação de frio, e a 24°C pelo sistema personalizado (PV), com vazão de 3,0 l/s, operando no assento próximo à fuselagem e ao corredor, alternadamente. As partículas simulando uma pessoa espirrando foram injetadas em dois pontos no fundo da cabine, respectivamente, no assento próximo à fuselagem e naquele junto do corredor, a 1,10m do piso, que corresponde à região de respiração. Foram medidas velocidades e temperaturas do ar e de partículas ao longo de toda a cabine. Os resultados mostraram que no sistema MV o sistema PV somente influenciou o escoamento do ar e a concentração de partículas no assento onde o sistema PV estava operando, com uma eficiência na remoção de partículas de até 30%. No sistema DV, por sua vez, o sistema PV apresentou eficiência de remoção de até 49% nos assentos em que estava operando. Contudo, o sistema PV pode aumentar em até 32% a concentração de partículas no assento próximo da janela quando o sistema PV estava operando no assento próximo do corredor, no sistema DV. Finalmente, os resultados mostraram resultados mais promissores do sistema PV no sistema MV, com melhoria significativa na remoção de partículas nos assentos onde está operando, sem influenciar negativamente no assento ao lado. / People are increasingly traveling by plane and often on long journeys. Air quality becomes a crucial issue. One way to improve air quality and thermal comfort conditions within an aircraft cabin is to use new personalized ventilation systems. The objective of the present work is the experimental analysis of the influence of a personalized ventilation system (PV) on the concentration, dispersion and removal of expiratory particles in aircraft cabin with mixed system (MV) and displacement (DV). The tests were performed in a 12 seat commercial aircraft cabin mock-up, with 4 seats per row. The air was inflated in the cabin at 18 ° C by the MV or DV system, corresponding to a slight cold sensation, and at 24 ° C by the custom system (PV), with a flow rate of 3.0 l / s, operating in the nearby seat the fuselage and the aisle, alternately. Particles simulating a person sneezing were injected at two points in the bottom of the cockpit, respectively, in the seat near the fuselage and next to the corridor, 1.10m from the floor, which corresponds to the breathing region. Air and particle velocities and temperatures were measured throughout the cabin. The results showed that in the MV system the PV system only influenced the air flow and the concentration of particles in the seat where the PV system was operating, with a particle removal efficiency of up to 30%. The DV system together with PV system showed removal efficiency of up to 49% in the seats in which it was operating. However, the PV system can increase particle concentration in the near-window seat by up to 32% when the PV system was operating on the seat next to the aisle in the DV system. Finally, the results showed more promising results of the PV system in the MV system, with significant improvement in particle removal in the seats where it is operating, without negatively influencing the next seat.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:50:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4219.pdf: 3324543 bytes, checksum: 612f41dbf613dfc01e074237ec3bafa6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-29 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / Comfort is a subject matter that is gaining relevance in the aviation industry, taking into consideration the necessity of the manufactures, as well as the airlines, in differentiating themselves in a market far more competitive. Nevertheless, comfort is a subjective experience, affected by many factors (psychological, physical and physiological) and a reaction of the environment. Therefore the case studies about the theme highlight a difficulty to analyze all the variable that interfere in the perception of comfort and discomfort, mainly when it comes to aircraft cabins. The general objective of this case study was to identify the variables related to comfort and discomfort in airplane cabins, through the passengers analysis of the activity in use situations, in order to develop a model for the assessment of comfort and discomfort. The case study was undertaken in 36 Brazilian airports and during 40 segments in corporate domestic flights, and the data collection adopted were: 377 questionnaires in airports and 291 in-flight questionnaires, 44 postures records and actions and also 12 semi-structured interviews. The data collected through the questionnaire were statistically analyzed and the ones obtained by systematic observations were analyzed and reinstated in the participants selfconfrontation interviews. One verified that the passengers most frequent activities are: feeding (91,1%), resting and sleeping (82,3%), reading, writing and working (80,5%), entertaining activities (56,1%), as well as, going to the toilet (54,8%). Out of those activities, the one which is harder for the passengers is resting and sleeping (74,6). From the analysis of the difficulties regarding every single activity, one verified that the variables related to space, as leg-room, personal area, as well as, the physical space for the movement of the body are the critical variable mentioned by the passengers. The crew service and also the entertainment on board were considered as well once they can produce comfort. One of the results of this case-study was the proposal of a methodology that led to envelops of postures with the calculation of the passengers area in use during their action, which can be a useful tool in the process of aircraft cabins project when making possible the calculation of the space for the action with base in the rebuilt course. In relation to the model of comfort and discomfort, a proposal was elaborated having the passengers action as a mediator. The proposed model parts from the premise that comfort and discomfort should be considered as two dimensions separated from experience, that feature different determinants (Zhang et al., 1996) and that the activity, in particular, the possibility and/or impossibility of acting, is in a mediator element between comfort and discomfort, being able to interfere in that relationship. From this case study have been developed one conceptual model and a methodology to analyze the comfort- the activity analysis is the main element of the model. Besides that, the database created in this study can be considered one tool to be use by the engineers, while they can use during the development of the project, in order to generate knowledge to the user. / O conforto é uma temática que vem ganhando relevância na indústria aeronáutica, tendo em vista a necessidade dos fabricantes e companhias aéreas de se diferenciar em um mercado cada vez mais competitivo. Entretanto, a literatura aponta o conforto como uma experiência subjetiva, sendo afetado por vários fatores (físicos, fisiológicos, e psicológicos), além de ser uma reação ao ambiente. Diante disso, os estudos realizados sobre o tema apontam uma dificuldade de analisar todas as variáveis que interferem na percepção do conforto e desconforto, principalmente quando se trata de cabines de aeronaves. O objetivo geral deste estudo foi desenvolver um modelo para avaliação de conforto e desconforto, buscando identificar as variáveis relacionadas ao conforto e desconforto em cabines de aeronaves, por meio da análise da atividade dos passageiros em situações de uso. O estudo foi realizado em 36 aeroportos brasileiros e durante 40 trechos de voos comerciais nacionais, e as técnicas de coleta de dados adotadas foram: aplicação de 377 questionários em aeroportos e 291 questionários durante viagens aéreas, 44 registros de posturas e ações e 12 entrevistas semiestruturadas. Os dados coletados por meio de questionários foram analisados estatisticamente e os obtidos por meio de observações sistemáticas foram analisados e restituídos aos participantes em entrevistas de autoconfrontação. Em relação ao modelo de conforto e desconforto, elaborou-se uma proposta tendo como elemento intermediador a ação do passageiro. O modelo proposto parte da premissa de que o conforto e desconforto devem ser considerados como duas dimensões separadas da experiência, que possuem diferentes determinantes (Zhang et al., 1996), e de que a atividade, mais especificamente a possibilidade/impossibilidade de agir, constitui-se em um elemento intermediador entre conforto e desconforto, sendo capaz de interferir nesta relação. Outro resultado do estudo foi a proposta de uma metodologia que resultou em um banco de dados e envelopes de posturas, com cálculo da área ocupada pelo passageiro durante a ação, que podem ser ferramentas a serem utilizadas no processo de projeto de cabines de aeronaves, ao possibilitar a análise de posturas adotadas, o cálculo do espaço para ação com base no curso reconstruído e, análise do discurso dos passageiros. Verificou-se que as atividades realizadas com maior frequência pelos passageiros são: alimentar-se (91,1%,), repousar e dormir (82,3%), ler, escrever e trabalhar (80,5%,), atividade de entretenimento (56,1%) e ir ao banheiro (54,8%). Destas, a atividade na qual os passageiros apresentam maiores dificuldades é repousar e dormir (74,6). A partir da análise dos constrangimentos referentes a cada uma das atividades, constatou-se que as variáveis relacionadas ao espaço, como espaço para as pernas, espaço pessoal e espaço para movimentação do corpo, são as variáveis criticas apontadas pelos passageiros por serem variáveis relacionadas ao desconforto. Também foram identificadas variáveis, tais como o atendimento da tripulação e o entretenimento a bordo, que podem gerar conforto. Uma das contribuições do estudo foi a proposta de uma base conceitual e de um método para o estudo de conforto, tendo como elemento central a ação do usuário. Além disso, o banco de dados gerado no estudo, a partir da análise do usuário em situações reais de uso, pode ser considerado uma ferramenta para uso dos projetistas, uma vez que estes podem consultá-lo ao longo de processo de desenvolvimento do produto, de forma a agregar informações sobre o usuário e ambiente de uso.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:52:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 5994.pdf: 5191690 bytes, checksum: ebc3abf7b37201a98f67d000108063db (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-05-19 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / The demand for air travel has grown each year, both in Brazil and abroad. Researches also indicate an estimated worldwide increase in elderly and obese people. In regards to people with disabilities, studies show that approximately 15% of the world population has some kind of disability and only in Brazil it´s believed that this population represents 25%. There is a growing participation of people with disabilities and people with special needs (such as the elderly and obese) in society, including the use of air transport. These people take use of assistive equipment (assistive technology) in their daily lives, and how air passengers, they take these products on board. That´s the focus of this study: a study in assistive technology. Thus, the goal is to identify products of assistive technology and understand the trends in this field to support future discussions about the implications for aircraft cabin design. First, a literature review was performed in order to better understand assistive technology and universal design. Then, collecting data through research at fairs, internet, survey and interviews related to assistive technology companies was performed. Such procedures indicated what kind of assistive technology products are used and what the emerging products are. Data were collected and analyzed from a descriptive perspective. The conclusions of the study were then formulated. They indicate a large number of assistive technology products for people with physical and visual disabilities and a big trend in multifunctional and electronic products. Assistive technology products bring great impact to the current and future design of the passenger cabin. / A demanda pelo transporte aéreo vem crescendo a cada ano, tanto no Brasil quanto no exterior. Pesquisas também indicam uma estimativa de aumento mundial de pessoas idosas e de pessoas obesas. Em se tratando de pessoas com deficiência, estudos apontam que aproximadamente 15% da população mundial possuem algum tipo de deficiência e só no Brasil, acredita-se que esta faixa da população represente 24%. Há uma crescente participação de pessoas com deficiência e de pessoas com necessidade especial (como idosos e obesos) na sociedade, inclusive na utilização do transporte aéreo. Essas pessoas fazem uso de equipamentos de auxílio (tecnologia assistiva) em seu dia a dia, e como passageiros do transporte aéreo, levam esses produtos a bordo. É este o foco dessa dissertação: estudo em tecnologia assistiva. Desta forma, o objetivo é identificar produtos de tecnologia assistiva e compreender as tendências neste campo para fundamentar futuras discussões quanto às implicações para projeto de cabine de aeronaves. Primeiramente foi realizada uma revisão da literatura para maior compreensão de tecnologia assistiva, cabine e design universal. Em seguida, foi realizada a coleta de dados por meio de pesquisa em feiras, internet, survey e entrevistas com empresas ligadas à tecnologia assistiva. Tais procedimentos apontaram quais produtos de tecnologia assistiva são mais utilizados e quais são os produtos emergentes. Os dados foram coletados e analisados sob uma perspectiva descritiva. Foram elaboradas então as conclusões do trabalho, que indicam um grande número de produtos de tecnologia assistiva para pessoas com deficiência física e visual e uma grande tendência em produtos multifuncionais e eletrônicos. Os produtos de tecnologia assistiva trazem grande impacto ao design atual e futuro de cabine de passageiro.

The simulation of physical systems in the early stages of conceptual designs has shown to be a key factor for adequate decision making and avoiding big and expensive issues downstream in engineering projects. In the case of aircraft cabin design, taking into account the thermal comfort of the passengers as well as the proper air circulation and renovation can make this difference. However, current numerical fluid simulations (CFD) are too computationally expensive for integrating them in early design stages where extensive comparative studies have to be performed. Instead, Zonal Models (ZM) appear to be a fast-computation approach that can provide coarse simulations for aircraft cabin flows. In this thesis, a Zonal Model solver is developed as well as a geometry-definition and meshing framework, both in Matlab®, for performing coarse, flexible and computationally cheap flow simulations of user-defined cabin designs. On one hand, this solver consists of a Fractional Step approach for coarse unstructured bi-dimensional meshes. On the other, the cabin geometry can be introduced by hand for simple shapes, but also with Computational Aided Design tools (CAD) for more complex designs. Additionally, it can be chosen to generate the meshes from scratch or morph them from previously generated ones. / <p>The presentation was online</p>