Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Automotive Technology. 1

General Concepts. 1

Specific Components. 2

Chapter 2 Heat Transfer & Thermal Pattern Analysis. 11

Basic Exterior Thermal Patterns on Steel Sheet Metal Bodies. 11

Engine Compartment Patterns. 11

Occupant Compartment Patterns. 12

Exhaust System Patterns. 13

Examples of Burn Patterns on Vehicles. 13

Sub Assembly Analysis. 20

Fire Testing.. 21

Chapter 3 Engine Compartment Fires. 25

Fires Due to Hot Surfaces. 25

Fires Due to Mechanical Causes. 25

Fires Due to Oil Leakage. 31

Fires Related to Engine Coolant 34

Fires Due to Electrical Causes. 36

Chapter 4 Exhaust System Related Fires. 41

Chapter 5 Occupant Compartment Fires. 45

Chapter 6 External Influences on Fires in Vehicles. 49

Lightning.. 49

Biologic. 51

Chapter 7 Explosions in Vehicles. 55

Point Source Explosion Testing.. 56

Diffuse Source Explosions. 58

Chapter 8 Industrial Vehicle Fires. 63

Fires Due to Defective Installation.. 63

Fires Due to Operator Negligence. 64

Fires Due to Electrical Causes. 65

Fires Due to Chafing.. 67

Fires in Lift Trucks. 69

Index. 73