Numerical and Experimental Investigation on the Energy Absorption Capability of a Full-Scale Composite Fuselage Section

Abstract

In the case of catastrophic events, such as an emergency landing, the fuselage structure is demanded to absorb most of the impact energy preserving, at the same time, a survivable space for the passengers. Moreover, the increasing trend of using composites in the aerospace field is pushing the investigation on the passive safety capabilities of such structures in order to get compliance with regulations and crashworthiness requirements. This paper deals with the development of a numerical model, based on the explicit finite element (FE) method, aimed to investigate the energy absorption capability of a full-scale 95% composite made fuselage section of a civil aircraft. A vertical drop test, performed at the Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA), carried out from a height of 14 feet so to achieve a ground contact velocity of 30 feet/s in according to the FAR/CS 25, has been used to assess the prediction capabilities of the developed FE method, allowing verifying the response under dynamic load condition and the energy absorption capabilities of the designed structure. An established finite element model could be used to define the reliable crashworthiness design strategy to improve the survival chance of the passengers in events such as the investigated one.

Experimental and Numerical Crashworthiness Study of a Full-Scale Composite Fuselage Section

“…4). Some improvements have been implemented over time by the authors in order to refine the developed preliminary FE model, named "1st FE model" in [52]. First, the spars in the bottom zone and some of the cargo floor beams (Figs.…”

Evaluation of the Mechanical Behavior of a Biocomposite Material in a Fuselage Section Numerical Drop Test

“…The FE model was created and developed in previous works and is illustrated in Figure 2a . It is faithful to the test article in all its parts, including the stanchions, which were the subject of a more in‐depth numerical study .…”

FE Model for Bird Strike Simulation on ARALL Leading Edge

“…Since their high costs in aerospace, the certification tests can be supported by numerical analyses, using, for example, the finite element method (FEM). [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] This method reduces the number of destructive physical tests required and makes the certification verification faster. In this paper, a FE model DOI: 10.1002/masy.202100475 for the simulation of a bird strike event on a leading edge has been carried out.…”