FULL-SCALE AIRCRAFT IMPACT TEST FOR EVALUATION OF IMPACT FORCE

Previously, estimates of the force caused by aircraft impact into rigi d structures have been determined using theoretical methods based on t he aircraft's calculated mass and strength distribution. However, thes e methods required many assumptions to be made and they left many ques tions unanswered. Because of the uncertainty involved in these analyti cal predictions of impact force, a full-scale aircraft impact test was performed and an extensive set of response measurements was analyzed to evaluate the impact force against a rigid target. The analysis and evaluation gave an accurate impact force-time curve under the test con dition and confirmed the practical use of an existing analytical metho d. An analysis with a lumped mass spring model also provided good agre ement with the test results.