Review: Computational methods for bird strike simulations: A review

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.

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

Bird-strike simulation for certification of the Boeing 787 composite moveable trailing edge

Modelling of impact forces and pressures in Lagrangian bird strike analyses

FE analysis of geometry effects of an artificial bird striking an aeroengine fan blade

: Birds and aircraft occupy the same air space and collisions between the two are inevitable. As aircraft speeds have increased, the severity and importance of bird/aircraft impact have also increased. As a result, efforts have been made to reduce the probability of collision by controlling the movement of birds and by changing the flight paths of aircraft. These actions can and have reduced the probability of collision but have not eliminated it. Therefore, the Air Force has initiated programs designed to increase birdstrike resistance of aircraft and aircraft components. This report describes a program which was conducted to establish the loads which birds exert on aircraft transparencies in collisions. The loads as derived in this program were to be used as input for the structural analysis computer code of windshield response to bird impact.

/pdf/bird-impact-forces-and-pressures-on-rigid-and-compliant-nqhjldocd3.pdf

Bird impact forces and pressures on rigid and compliant targets

: Aircraft may be damaged or even destroyed by inflight impacts with birds. Windshields and jet engine fan blades are particularly vulnerable to damage by bird impacts. The purpose of this study has been to experimentally determine the pressure-time variations generated by small birds impacting a flat rigid plate, in an effort to characterize the loading of real aircraft components by bird impacts.

/pdf/characterization-of-bird-impacts-on-a-rigid-plate-part-1-32s7swgxzh.pdf

Characterization of Bird Impacts on a Rigid Plate: Part 1

: The momentum transferred to J-79 jet engine fan blades through impact with soft body projectiles was measured. Impacts onto stainless steel disks mounted normal to and 25 deg to trajectory were also investigated. Elementary analytical models of the momentum transfer were constructed for each of the three configurations.

/pdf/impact-of-soft-bodies-on-jet-engine-fan-blades-5ayee1h37y.pdf

John P. Barber

Papers

Bird impact forces and pressures on rigid and compliant targets

Characterization of Bird Impacts on a Rigid Plate: Part 1

Impact of Soft Bodies on Jet Engine Fan Blades