A systematic approach to aircraft crashworthiness and impact surface material models

Abstract

The underlying objective of this paper is to describe an approach adopted for investigating the crashworthiness of an airliner fuselage. It is based on detailed Finite Element (FE) modelling and supported by a series of static and dynamic tests on a subfloor section. The detailed FE analysis was undertaken to predict the dynamic collapse mechanism of a fuselage section. A parametric analytical study was performed for one of the dynamic tests modelled here to verify the results by taking into consideration the influence of modelling techniques. The structural response of an aircraft during an impact with the ground is highly dependent upon the terrain encountered. Significant structural response difference are likely to be produced when the impact surface is of a soft soil type as against a rigid surface such as concrete. The methodology to develop ground models was based on extending the problem from a simple to a complex structure/ground interaction.

Keywords

aircraft crashworthiness impact dynamic test finite element analysis impact surface ground material models (water,sand,concrete)

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