Hybrid approach in bird strike damage prediction on aeronautical composite structures

This paper deals with the problem of numerical prediction of bird strike induced damage on aeronautical structures. The problem of soft body impacts has been tackled by applying a hybrid Eulerian Lagrangian technique, thereby avoiding numerical difficulties associated with extensive mesh distortion. Eulerian modeling of the bird impactor resulted in a more realistic behavior of bird material during impact, which has lead to an enhanced response of the impacted structure. The work presented in this paper is focused on damage modeling in composite items of aeronautical structures. The bird impactor model and damage modeling approaches have been validated by comparison with experimental gas gun results available in the open literature, while the complete damage prediction procedure has been demonstrated on a complex airplane flap structure finite element model.     

Hybrid approach in bird strike damage prediction on aeronautical composite structures

This paper deals with the problem of numerical prediction of bird strike induced damage on aeronautical structures. The problem of soft body impacts has been tackled by applying a hybrid Eulerian Lagrangian technique, thereby avoiding numerical difficulties associated with extensive mesh distortion. Eulerian modeling of the bird impactor resulted in a more realistic behavior of bird material during impact, which has lead to an enhanced response of the impacted structure. The work presented in this paper is focused on damage modeling in composite items of aeronautical structures. The bird impactor model and damage modeling approaches have been validated by comparison with experimental gas gun results available in the open literature, while the complete damage prediction procedure has been demonstrated on a complex airplane flap structure finite element model.     

State-of-the-Art Finite Element Modeling of Rotorcraft Main Rotor Blade for Bird Strike Damage Analysis

This paper demonstrates the state-of-the-art composite modeling methodology to investigate the bird strike phenomenon using available numerical bird models through experimental tests and simulation tools. The present work is based on the application of nonlinear explicit finite element analysis to simulate the response of rotorcraft main rotor blade root end under high velocity impact load. The damage behavior of blade made of composites under soft body impact depends upon bird size, blade size, blade span-wise location of impact and bird orientation with respect to hitting location, blade rotational speed and rotorcraft cruise speed. Bird model is considered as hydrodynamic with length-to-diameter ratio of 2. A bird strike event is characterized by loads of high intensity and short duration. A transient explicit nonlinear finite element-based impact analysis using Autodyn has been carried out to predict bird strike resistance to withstand 1.0 kg bird at critical flight condition. Numerical analysis indicates that blades do not tear which agrees well with the physical test conducted.     

Bird strike damage analysis in aircraft structures using Abaqus/Explicit and coupled Eulerian Lagrangian approach

The subject of this paper is numerical prediction of bird strike induced damage in real aeronautical structures using highly detailed finite element models and modern numerical approaches. Due to the complexity of today’s aeronautical structures, numerical damage prediction methods have to be able to take into account various failure and degradation models of different materials. A continuum damage mechanics approach has been employed to simulate failure initiation and damage evolution in unidirectional composite laminates. Hashin’s failure initiation criteria have been employed in order to be able to distinct between four ply failure modes. The problem of soft body impacts has been tackled by applying the Coupled Eulerian Lagrangian technique, thereby avoiding numerical difficulties associated with extensive mesh distortion. This improvement in impactor deformation modelling resulted in a more realistic behaviour of bird material during impact. Numerical geometrical and material nonlinear transient dynamic analyses have been performed using Abaqus/Explicit. The main focus of the work presented in this paper is the application of the damage prediction procedure in damage assessment of bird impact on a typical large airliner inboard flap structure. Due to the high cost of gas-gun testing of aircraft components, experimental testing on the real flap structure could not have been performed. In order to evaluate the accuracy of the presented method, the bird and composite damage model have been validated against experimental data available in the literature.     

Experimental study of impact energy absorption by reinforced braided composite structures: Dynamic crushing tests

High speed dynamic loadings such as small engine fragments, bird strike, tyre impact or ice debris are a concern for many aeronautical structures, as they can create severe damages raising safety issues. A strategy to develop dedicated mechanisms for energy absorption of high speed dynamic impact debris at sub-component level is therefore proposed by means of several reinforced foam-woven composite structures. Among the tests for evaluating the mechanical performances, dynamic crushing tests were performed on a slice of such reinforced composite structures to evaluate their energy absorption. Using simultaneously load signal and fast camera imaging, the tests were analyzed to provide important informations such as damage mechanisms and displacement-load-energy absorption values. At the end, quantitative criterions are presented in order to distinguish the designs that have a good potential for absorbing shock energy and for getting a better understanding for designing reinforced composite structures.     

Numerical prediction of damage in composite structures from soft body impacts

The paper summarises recent progress on materials modelling and numerical simulation of soft body impact damage in fibre reinforced composite aircraft structures. The work is based on the application of finite element (FE) analysis codes to simulate damage in composite shell structures under impact loads. Composites ply damage models and interply delamination models have been developed and implemented in commercial explicit FE codes. Models are discussed for predicting impact loads on aircraft structures arising from deformable soft bodies such as gelatine (synthetic bird) and ice (hailstone). The composites failure models and code developments are briefly summarised and applied in the paper to numerical simulation of synthetic bird impact on idealised composite aircraft structures.     

Test and Modelling of Impact on Pre-Loaded Composite Panels

Currently test and simulation of low and high speed impact of Aerospace composite structures is undertaken in an unloaded state. In reality this may not be the case and significant internal stresses could be present during an impact event such as bird strike during landing, or takeoff. In order to investigate the effects of internal loading on damage and failure of composite materials a series of experimental and simulation studies have been undertaken on three composite types having different fibres, resins and lay-ups. For each composite type panels have been manufactured and transversely impacted under the condition of ‘unloading’ or ‘pre-loading’. For preloading a rig has been constructed that can impose a constant in plane strain of up to 0.25% prior to impact. Results have clearly shown that preloading does lower the composite impact tolerance and change the observed failure modes. Simulation of experiments have also been conducted and have provided an encouraging agreement with test results in terms of both impact force time histories and prediction of the observed failure mechanisms.     

Aluminium foams as a filler for leading edges: Improvements in the mechanical behaviour under bird strike impact tests

The use of aluminium foams as filler materials in aeronautical leading edges is investigated. Particularly, the improvement of the mechanical behaviour of the filled structure respect to the hollow one is analysed by means of standard bird strike impact tests. For this purpose, a collection of AlSi₁₀ foams were fabricated using the powder metallurgical route (PM), and introduced into leading edges profiles, maintaining or reducing the total weight of the composite structure (leading edge + aluminium foam) in comparison with the original one (hollow structure). Bird strike impact tests were carried out in both types of structures, comparing the global deformation and total load transferred in the tests. The results showed that the composite structure, a 13% lighter than the original one, showed four times better behaviour in terms of global deformation and an improvement of two times in the transmitted load.     

复合材料雷达罩耐鸟撞和电磁性能综合优化设计

对蜂窝夹芯复合材料雷达罩进行耐鸟撞优化设计以及耐鸟撞和电磁性能综合优化设计,优化设计变量是雷达罩分段后的总厚度和比例等,耐撞性优化目标是最大限度的减小雷达罩的损伤面积和保护雷达罩内的设备安全,体现在数值计算中减小雷达罩的失效单元数和鸟体的剩余动能;耐鸟撞和电磁性能的综合优化目标除满足以上目标外,也要求使电磁参数指标达到最优。优化软件中集成了显式动力分析软件LS-DYNA和电磁分析软件FEKO,采用了适合于复合材料壳单元冲击损伤的Chang-Chang模型。某算例的优化结果表明：合理的优化设置可以实现蜂窝夹芯复合材料雷达罩的耐鸟撞和电磁性能优化要求,并提高工程设计效率。     

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.     

飞机尾翼前缘结构鸟撞仿真与改进设计

基于疏散鸟体动能的防鸟撞策略,以提高结构刚度和抑制变形为目标,采用光滑粒子流体动力学(SPH)方法对现有飞机尾翼前缘结构鸟撞过程进行了数值研究。根据模拟结果,通过增加单向斜支板结构和采用纤维/金属复合材料,实现了从结构和材料两个方面对尾翼前缘结构进行改进设计。结果表明,前缘增加的单向斜支板结构可以通过疏散鸟体动能来降低鸟撞冲击对尾翼内部结构的破坏,而采用纤维金属复合材料则减轻了前缘曲翼约10%的质量,且提高了整体刚度,并使结构在鸟撞过程中最大变形降低到原始构型的25%。通过分析不同铺层方式下材料的破坏模式和吸能效果,发现合理的铺层设计可显著提高尾翼前缘结构的抗鸟撞性能。     

Numerical simulation of impact tests on GFRP composite laminates

The design of advanced composite structures or components subjected to dynamic loadings requires a deep understanding of the damage and degradation mechanisms occurring within the composite material. The present paper deals with the numerical simulation of low-velocity impact tests on glass fabric/epoxy laminates through the LS-DYNA Finite Element (FE) code. Two laminates of different thickness were subjected to transverse impact at different energy levels and modeled by FE. Solid finite elements combined with orthotropic failure criteria were used to model the composite failure and stress based contact failure between plies were adopted to model the delamination mechanism. The final simulation results showed a good correlation with experimental data in terms of both force–displacement curves and material damage.     

Progressive failure modelling of woven carbon composite under impact

The design of composite structures or components, subject to extreme loading conditions, such as crash, blast, etc. requires a fundamental understanding of the deterioration mechanism within the composite meso-structure. Existing predictive techniques for the analysis of composite structures and components near and beyond their ultimate strength are either based on simple scalar stress functions, or use very complex damage formulations with many material constants, some of which may be difficult to characterise. This paper presents a simple damage mechanics based progressive failure model for thin woven carbon composites under impact loading. The approach is based on an unconventional thermodynamic maximum energy dissipation approach, which entails controlling damage evolution and hence energy dissipation per second, rather than damage. The method has been implemented into the explicit dynamic finite element code DYNA3D. Numerical simulation results using the proposed model are compared with two experimental impact tests.The analysis methodology proposed in this paper reflects a very simple, but effective technique that can be used to model a wide range of problems from extreme events, such as crash or blast, to birdstrike, when tearing and perforation are major failure mechanisms. As damage is cumulative, the technique allows initial or/and post-impact static loads to be applied to the composite structure or component, thus allowing a cradle-to-grave design methodology.     

Development and Validation of a Novel Bird Strike Resistant Composite Leading Edge Structure

A novel design of a fibre-reinforced composite Leading Edge (LE) of a Horizontal Tail Plain (HTP) is proposed. The development and validation approach of the innovative composite LE structure are described. The main design goal is the satisfactory impact resistance of the novel composite LE in the case of bird strike. The design concept is based on the absorption of the major portion of the bird kinetic energy by the composite skins, in order to protect the ribs and the inner LE structure from damaging, thus preserving the tail plane functionality for safe landing. To this purpose, the LE skin is fabricated from specially designed composite panels, so called ‘tensor skin’ panels, comprising folded layers, which unfold under the impact load and increase the energy absorption capability of the LE. A numerical model simulating the bird strike process is developed and bird strike experimental testing is performed, in order to validate the proposed layout and prove the capability of the structure to successfully withstand the impact loading. The numerical modelling issues and the critical parameters of the simulation are discussed. The present work is part of the European Aeronautics Research Project, ‘Crashworthiness of aircraft for high velocity impact – CRAHVI’ [1].     

NiTi SMA Wires Coupled with Kevlar Fabric: a Real Application of an Innovative Aircraft LE Slat System in SMAHC Material

This paper investigates experimentally and numerically the response of a smart hybrid thermoplastic aircraft slat system subjected to a short-duration and high-frequency event like a birdstrike. The focus of the paper is to exploit the ability that superelastic shape memory alloys have to absorb and dissipate energy compared to conventional composite structures. The final objective of the work is to develop an innovative thermoplastic wing leading edge slat able to resist to an impact of 4-lb (1.8 kg) bird at speed of 350 kts (132 m/s), as requested by the aeronautical requirements. Aircraft leading edges must be certified for a proven level of bird impact resistance. In particular, the main structural requirement is to protect the torsion box and control devices from any significant damage caused by birdstrike in order to allow the aircraft to land safely. A clear increase of the composites toughness and higher absorbed energy levels before failure were also observed. This is due to the fact that SMA wires can absorb kinetic energy during the impact due to their remarkably large failure and recoverable strain and to their superelastic and hysteretic behaviour. The activities have been performed within the European Project COALESCE “Cost Efficient Advanced Leading Edge Structure”, funded by the Seventh Framework Program Theme 7 Transport (incl. Aeronautics).     

复合材料加筋壁板鸟撞动响应分析

考虑复合材料蜂窝夹芯结构的冲击损伤,采用接触碰撞耦合方法研究了复合材料加筋壁板的抗鸟撞性能。鸟撞方式包括垂直冲击和斜冲击两种,复合材料的冲击损伤模型采用Chang-Chang模型,分析了三种鸟撞速度下鸟撞性能参数如复合材料壁板的失效单元数、鸟体剩余动能和筋条的变形,以及复合材料壁板和筋条在某一鸟撞速度下应力随筋条数的变化规律。计算结果表明：垂直冲击和斜冲击下复合材料加筋壁板的抗鸟撞性能不同,并非筋条越多越有利于改善抗鸟撞性能,筋条有时还可能起反作用。     

Rapid simulation of impacts on composite sandwich panels inducing barely visible damage

The finite element based design tool, CODAC, has been developed for efficiently simulating the impact behavior of sandwich structures consisting of two composite face sheets and a compliant core. To achieve a rapid and accurate stress analysis, three-layered finite shell elements are used. A number of macromechanical damage models are implemented to model damage onset and damage growth.

The transient impact analysis is assessed via an experimental impact test program on honeycomb sandwich panels. Force–time histories and damage sizes are examined. The influence of distinct damage and degradation models on the impact response is analyzed. Results show that the presented time-efficient methodology is capable of accurately modeling core failure behavior and rapidly simulating low-velocity impacts which induce barely visible damage.     

An approach to evaluate the impact damage initiation and propagation in composite plates

An approach to evaluate the impact damage initiation and propagation in composite plates is investigated. It is shown that the main characters of impact damage can be predicted by introducing both threshold strength and propagation strength for matrix cracking. The threshold strength controls whether the damage occurs in the composite structures, whereas the propagation strength determines by which extent the damage develops. Maximum stress and quadratic stress failure criteria were employed in three failure modes. It has been revealed from both the simulation and the experiment that there is a small zone of no matrix failure at the centre of impact area in the core for 0.59 J impact. It is shown that this approach has flexible applications at an appropriate stage in the design and research process.     

Transient Dynamic Response and Failure of Sandwich Composite Structures under Impact Loading with Fluid Structure Interaction

The objective of this study is to examine the Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) effect on transient dynamic response and failure of sandwich composite structures under impact loading. The primary sandwich composite used in this study consisted of a 6.35?mm balsa core and a multi-ply symmetrical plain weave 6?oz E-glass skin. Both clamped sandwich composite plates and beams were studied using a uniquely designed vertical drop-weight testing machine. There were three impact conditions on which these experiments focused. The first of these conditions was completely dry (or air surrounded) testing. The second condition was completely water submerged. The final condition was also a water submerged test with air support at the backside of the plates. The tests were conducted sequentially, progressing from a low to high drop height to determine the onset and spread of damage to the sandwich composite when impacted with the test machine. The study showed the FSI effect on sandwich composite structures is very critical such that impact force, strain response, and damage size are generally much greater with FSI under the same impact condition. As a result, damage initiates at much lower impact energy conditions with the effect of FSI. Neglecting to account for FSI effects on sandwich composite structures results in very non-conservative analysis and design. Additionally, it was observed that the damage location changed for sandwich composite beams with the effect of FSI.     

含雷击热-力耦合损伤复合材料层压板拉伸剩余强度预测

为了对含雷击热-力耦合损伤复合材料层压板的剩余强度进行预测,基于连续介质损伤力学法(CDM)和唯象分析法,建立了表征复合材料雷击热-力耦合损伤的刚度矩阵渐进损伤退化模型。基于该模型,通过ABAQUS有限元仿真软件,建立了含雷击热-力耦合损伤的复合材料层压板结构三维模型。结合UMAT子程序,完成了拉伸载荷下的剩余强度预测。结果表明:通过与试验对比,仿真结果与试验结果取得了良好的一致性。本文所建立模型,能够有效进行含雷击热-力耦合损伤复合材料层压板结构拉伸剩余强度预测。