Development and verification of the simplified analysis method to calculate the emergency evacuation time for civil aircraft

CCAR 25.803 shows detailed airworthiness requirements for the emergency evacuation of civil aircraft. Compliance demonstration for airworthiness must be based on simulation tests, but the analysis method is a powerful tool for the design of emergency evacuation systems. This paper establishes a new mathematical model of emergency evacuation process, develops a calculation program and proposes a simplified analysis method for calculating possible evacuation time. Typical features include 1) a two-dimensional matrix description method for cabin layout; 2) Random set of personnel attributes based on airworthiness requirements; 3) Dynamic adjustment of door usage efficiency. The simulation of emergency evacuation procedure for AIRBUS 320 and BOEING 767 was compared with literature experimental data and commercial software Pathfinder's results to show the correctness of the analysis method in this paper. This analysis method can quickly optimize the design of the emergency evacuation system and evaluate the evacuation time under the premise of ensuring accuracy. It can also provide assistance for aircraft cabin layout design and airworthiness verification.