Evaluation of Free-Fall Lifeboat Launch Performance. Documentation

摘要

Presented in this report is a discussion of issues pertinent to the certification of free-fall lifeboats such as launch behavior, strength and structural integrity, and measurement of acceleration forces to infer occupant safety. Criteria for developing properly scaled models are also presented since scale models are often used to evaluate lifeboat performance. The appendices to this report contain a suggested free-fall lifeboat prototype test program and a sample summary evaluation form that inspectors can use during free-fall lifeboat prototype tests. Mathematical formulations have been included, where appropriate, to show the basis and limitations of the analysis procedures as well as to provide some insight into the fundamental behavior of the lifeboat. In general, mathematics is used in the discussion only to the extent necessary to explain a physical concept or the limitations of an analysis procedure. All pertinent results are summarized in tables or are reduced to easily used equations.