Modelling of Bird Strike on an Aircraft Wing Leading Edge Made from Fibre Metal Laminates – Part 2: Modelling of Impact with SPH Bird Model

Fibre Metal Laminates with layers of aluminium alloy and high strength glass fibre composite have been reported to possess excellent impact properties and be suitable for aircraft parts likely to be subjected to impacts such as runway debris or bird strikes. In a collaborative research project, aircraft wing leading edge structures with a glass-based FML skin have been designed, built, and subjected to bird strike tests that have been modelled with finite element analysis. In this second part of a two-part paper, a finite element model is developed for simulating the bird strike tests, using Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) for modelling the bird and the material model developed in Part 1 of the paper for modelling the leading edge skin. The bird parameters are obtained from a system identification analysis of strikes on flat plates. Pre-test simulations correctly predicted that the bird did not penetrate the leading edge skin, and correctly forecast that one FML lay-up would deform more than the other. Post test simulations included a model of the structure supporting the test article, and the predicted loads transferred to the supporting structure were in good agreement with the experimental values. The SPH bird model showed no signs of instability and correctly modelled the break-up of the bird into particles. The rivets connecting the skin to the ribs were found to have a profound effect on the performance of the structure.