Development and Application of A Finite Element Based Analysis Methodology For Crash Impacts on Soft Soil

This paper presents the development and application of a nonlinear finite element based analysis methodology to simulate helicopter crash impacts on soft soil. Development of techniques and constitutive properties for modeling various types of soil, transient dynamic analysis of crash impacts, and correlation of analytical results with full-scale helicopter crash test data are described. Finally, recommended future enhancements to the analytical tools and modeling techniques are presented. This work was performed as part of the 1999-2000 NRTC/RITA Crash Safety Project. The full-scale helicopter crash test on soft soil was conducted at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground as part of the same project.