View Factors of Samples Tested in Cone and Cylinder Calorimeters

Abstract

Cone and cylinder calorimeters are devices used to determine flammability characteristics of solid materials under prescribed heat inputs. Temperature and heat input distribution on the exposed surface of a specimen in a calorimeter can be affected by variations of position or size of the specimen. This work analyzes the thermal radiation view factors of slabs and cylinders tested in cone and cylinder calorimeters, respectively. Blackbody radiation thermal interchange is assumed and reflections of neighbor objects are not considered. Uniformity of view factor distributions and total view factors are compared for slabs and cylinders tested in calorimeters, considering positioning and size variations.