A review on the hybrid SPH-FEM-based bird impact analysis of laminated composite panels

Abstract

The increasing usage of laminated composite structures in aviation has raised the critical need to understand their behavior under bird-strike events, which pose severe safety risks. This review uniquely focuses on the hybrid Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics–Finite Element Method (SPH-FEM) approach for simulating bird impacts on laminated composite panels. This area has not been comprehensively addressed in prior literature. Unlike traditional modeling methods, the SPH-FEM technique enables accurate simulation of fluid-like bird behavior alongside detailed structural damage mechanisms such as delamination, fiber fracture, and matrix cracking. This work highlights key insights into the influence of bird geometry, impact velocity, and composite layup on damage progression and energy dissipation. Notably, this review identifies critical research gaps in bird homogenization and the validation of high-velocity failure criteria. Recent developments in bio-inspired helicoidal laminates and hybrid models are also examined to inform future design and simulation standards. Through this focused analysis, the review provides a forward-looking framework to advance the reliability, efficiency, and accuracy of bird-strike simulations in aerospace applications.