A simplified finite element model for crashworthiness investigations

As well-known, experimental drop tests for the study of the passive safety of aeronautical structures are very expensive and, therefore, in many cases complex to be replicated. In this context, the support of already-validated numerical tools is fundamental to reduce costs, develop new structural solutions and carry out further tests with the awareness to have got underlying reliable numerical results. This article deals with the development of a finite element model of a fuselage section suitable for usage in structural optimizations and designs of experiment with crashworthiness purposes. FE model has been made starting from a more complex numerical model used previously by authors to replicate accurately an experimental drop test. Several simplifications have been performed allowing reducing sharply the computational costs. After an overview of both models, paper is addressed to show the reliability of the simplified FE model, against the complex one, by comparing the internal energy and the deformations predicted by both models. The simplified model was found to be a suitable tool in terms of level of accuracy and computational costs.