Predictive Methodologies for the Crashworthiness of Aircraft Structures

The paper describes predictive simulation tools for evaluating the dynamic crash response of aircraft structures. Attention is given to hybrid codes, which are appropriate for global crash analysis of a complete aircraft structure, and to dynamic finite element (FE) codes which are better suited to more detailed local analysis of a substructure or structural element. After discussing the available simulation tools the paper gives examples of crash simulations on aircraft structures and substructures, fabricated in both aluminium and composite materials and where possible a comparison with test data is made. The use of coupled global/local simulation methods, where for example detailed results of local FE models are used within global hybrid simulations are also described. The advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches are discussed and future directions for aircraft crash simulations are indicated.