Crashworthiness Assessment of the Flying-V Under Complex Crash Scenarios With Partially Detailed Structures

Traditional aircraft crashworthiness assessments typically involve vertical drop tests on a specific fuselage segment to simulate landing impacts. However, the Flying-V’s unique geometry and mass distribution challenge the suitability of such simplified tests. Previous studies have focused solely on the wing-fuselage region, neglecting the central and outboard areas. This research aims to develop a methodology for a more elaborated crashworthiness assessment, particularly for unconventional aircraft such as the Flying-V. It proposes simplified modelling approaches to capture essential kinematics without detailing the entire aircraft. A newly introduced reduced modelling technique, leveraging moments of inertia, optimizes vertical drop tests and reduces simulation time. However, limitations arise when evaluating more intricate crash scenarios, prompting the proposal of a submodelling technique. While the submodelling technique effectively captures the engine section dynamics, comprehensive finite element modelling remains essential for addressing complex scenarios.