Ballistic Impact Simulations of a Titanium 6Al-4 V Generic Fan Blade Fragment on an Aluminum 2024 Panel Using *MAT_224 in LS-DYNA

Abstract

As a part of the FAA’s Aircraft Catastrophic Failure Prevention Program, advanced Aluminum 2024 and Titanium 6Al-4 V material models utilizing *MAT_224 in LS-DYNA have been developed to improve the numerical modeling of turbine engine blade-out containment tests required for certification of aircraft engines. In this effort, NASA conducted four ballistic impact tests on large flat Aluminum 2024 panels with a blade-shaped Titanium 6Al-4 V projectile to provide experimental data to evaluate the numerical material model. These tests were designed to represent a realistic turbine engine fan-blade release event. In this research, ballistic impact tests were simulated using advanced Aluminum 2024 and Titanium 6Al-4 V material models to validate the material models under simulated turbine engine blade release event conditions. The research also identifies possible challenges for such a ballistic impact simulation with a blade-shaped projectile that slides, bends (plastically deforms), may fracture, and rotates as it moves in three dimensions.