Summary of Recent Research Work on Crashworthy CFRP Transport Aircraft Fuselage Designs

Abstract

Due to their inherently brittle behavior CFRP structures demand for a specific design to achieve appropriate crash energy absorption compared to classical metallic fuselage designs. Over the last years the DLR Institute of Structures and Design was involved in a variety of research studies to assess and improve different crashworthy designs for CFRP transport aircraft fuselage sections. In this paper experimental as well as numerical studies on two different crashworthy designs are presented. The first concept aims to absorb the crash energy by crushing of CFRP components below a reinforced cargo cross beam in combination with further energy absorbing devices in the lower side shell. The feasibility of this concept was in the meantime proven by tests on coupon and structural element level. An alternative crash concept making use of energy absorption in so-called tension absorbers in the passenger and cargo floor structure was developed and assessed with the focus on a reduction of structural mass in combination with improved concept robustness.