Crashworthiness of a general aviation fuselage section: 3D FEM numerical modelling and validation

Crashworthiness is defined as the capability of a structure to guarantee its occupants safety during a crash event. In the present work, the crashworthiness of a composite fuselage section has been preliminary investigated. Indeed, the mechanical behavior of the investigated fuselage section has been assessed by means of the FE code ABAQUS/Explicit, considering an impact event on a rigid surface. The proposed numerical model, capable to take into account the matrix and fiber traction and compression damages, uses a 3D Finite Element formulation to better predict the deformations and the damages onset and propagation during the impact event. Two numerical models have been introduced to study the effect of the passenger floor stiffening on the mechanical response to impact of the entire investigated fuselage barrel. The results in terms of displacements and qualitative deformations of the fuselage, for the analyzed numerical models, have been compared.