Rotary Wing Aircraft Water Impact Test and Analyses Correlation
Abstract
NAWCAD Patuxent River in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration is sponsoring a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II program to investigate water impact dynamics relevant to DoD, DOT, and industry. One of the primary objectives of the program is to develop analytical tools that can be used to facilitate the process of showing compliance with current civil and military ditching requirements with a decreasing dependence on expensive scale model ditching tests. This paper describes an effort that focuses on the application of a crash modeling and simulation approach utilizing both a nonlinear finite-element code (MSC/DYTRAN(registered)) and a hybrid impact code (DRI/KRASH) to demonstrate the potential for airframe water impact analysis in the development of crash design criteria and concepts. The test recorded pressures, accelerations, and damage from a fully instrumented UH-1H helicopter 26-ft/sec. vertical impact into water are presented. Pretest analyses using DRI(KRASH and MSC/DYTRAN(registered)) are provided and compared to the test measured results. Post-test modeling considerations and results are discussed and presented. Time histories of acceleration and pressure responses are included. A fuselage underside damage assessment is provided. A summary of overall averages and discrete point-by-point comparisons are included, as well as average pressures and floor pulses. The results presented are a partial fulfillment of the SBIR goals. Additional tasks on the SBIR are noted.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA378036
Entities
People
- Gil Wittlin
- Michael J. Smith
- Mike Schultz
Organizations
- Naval Air Warfare Center