Project Areas

Aircraft

<< [ page 2 of 6 ] >>

Crashworthiness for Commercial Aircraft

CIC specialize in improving airframe crashworthiness through analytical investigation supported by extensive experimental work on joints, fasteners, materials and components. Studies into aircraft crashworthiness, including design for occupant protection, are a major feature of our activities.

We have been involved in a European Commission (EC) funded research program on the crashworthiness of commercial aircraft. Supported by a consortium of universities, engineering consultancies, software developers and major airframe manufacturers, the research is aimed at providing guidelines for the improvement of crashworthiness design techniques. This incorporates extensive analytical studies, and experimental work on materials, components and full scale structures. CIC are investigating the:

• Identification of the failure mechanism of the airframe sub-floor component under dynamic load
• Determination of the failure mode and location of the plastic hinge
• Identification of the airframe sub-floor structure failure mechnism under impact condition

Components and Sub-structures

For a number of years, CIC has been developing and assessing crashworthy aircraft components at concept design level. Projects have included the assessment of damage from dropped objects (e.g. spanners) on to a composite aircraft wing ). Failure modes such as delamination and crack propagation  were monitored in relation to the weight and drop-height of objects. Similar projects, on a larger scale, have included the design, development and testing of passenger seats and aircraft interior fittings.

 
launch animation