Numerical Study of a Transport Aircraft Wing Impact with a Birch Tree

Assessment of the crashworthiness of the aircraft structure like the wing is important. Nowadays, the finite-element (FE) analysis is widely used in this area. Also, the numerical simulation can aid air crash investigation to exclude some unreasonable reasons. In this work, finite-element models of the wing and slat structures are generated including skin, spars, stringers, and ribs. In every scenario with various fidelity of the mesh of the wing, material model of the birch, and the impact location, the front spar of the wing cut through the tree and the upper part of the tree fell in the direction of the movement of the airplane. The damage to the wing is localized on the leading edge and front spar, while the structural integrality of the wing is maintained. The impact with the birch tree cannot cause significant damage to the wing. This paper exhibits the methodology of modeling and simulating the wing impact against the tree to assess its crashworthiness and explore the possible reason for the accident.