Crashworthiness analysis of aircraft fuselage with sine-wave beam structure

An integrated design concept for crashworthy fuselage using sine-wave beam and strut is proposed and investigated. The finite element model of aircraft fuselage is built first. The structures above cabin floor, occupant and seat are simplified as two rigid blocks. The fuselage frame is redesigned, and the sine-wave beam is arranged under the frame. The impact dynamic performance of the aircraft with bottom sine-wave beam structure is studied and compared with that of conventional type. To obtain better crashworthiness performance, different rigidity of strut is combined with the sine-wave beam bottom structure. Numerical simulation result shows that the proposed sine-wave beam bottom structure could not only dissipate more proportion of impact kinetic energy but also reduce the initial peak acceleration. The structure and rigidity of strut have great influence on the crashworthiness performance. To give a better fuselage structure, both of the strut and bottom structure should be properly integrated and designed. (C) 2016 Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Published by Elsevier Ltd.