Validation of Numerical Simulation of Composite Helicopter Sub-floor Structures under Crash Loading

The paper describes DLR’s research on the crash behavior of generic composite box structures, as used in helicopter sub-floor assemblies. Especially numerical simulations of the crash behavior of these structures using the explicit Finite Element code PAM-CRASH, provided by ESI, are presented. The scope of the work presented in this paper can be divided into three major parts. In the first part basic materials data measured in a comprehensive test program on carbon and aramid fabric composites with an epoxy resin system are given. These quasi-static and dynamic tests included tensile, compression, bending and crushing tests of tube segment specimens. In the second section the validation and improvements of the existing materials models are presented on single element and specimen level. Finally, numerical simulations of the crash behavior of complex composite cruciform and box structures are shown and compared with results of corresponding quasi-static and dynamic crushing tests. An outlook with a summary of the further research activities and envisaged improvements of the numerical capabilities is given.