ALE numerical simulation of the crash impact test of an external auxiliary fuel tank

Abstract

A fluid–structure interaction analysis (FSI) should be performed to confirm the structural soundness of a fuel tank storing fuel against an external impact. In the past, FSI has been constrained from obtaining numerical results due to the requirement for excessive computational resources. Recent computer performance has been dramatically improved, enabling complex numerical analysis. In this study, numerical analysis of a crash impact test for an aircraft external auxiliary fuel tank is performed using FSI. Its purpose is to estimate the possibility of failure of the fuel tank mounted inside the composite container due to crash impact loads. As the numerical results, the fluid behavior inside the fuel tank is investigated and the validity of the load acting on the internal component is verified. Moreover, the structural soundness of the composite container is evaluated using a failure index and it of the fuel tank is evaluated based on equivalent stress.