Finite element analysis of an aluminum airplane stabilizer against birdstrike

Abstract

Bird Strike is a common hazard for flight safety that causes remarkable losses every year. According to the statistics, horizontal stabilizers are one of the most vulnerable locations of an airplane against bird strike. The objective of the paper is to show how to find out if a particular design of the airplane stabilizer is resistant enough against bird strike. A Lagrangian hemispherical-ended bird model was used as the representative of the impacting bird. Validation of the bird impact phenomenon was done by simulating a bird strike on a rigid target and comparing the results with experimental data available. The stabilizer structure finite element (FE) model used as the target was almost complete and all the components that usually constitute a real stabilizer structure was considered. Bird impact on four different spots of a stabilizer structure was investigated using FE code LS-DYNA and their results were compared in terms of energy absorption, displacement and bird’s mass diagrams well as visible damage induced on the stabilizer structure. For having a safe and sound stabilizer structure, it is suggested to investigate the resistance of the weakest point of the leading edge structure against bird strike which was found to be the middle of two adjacent ribs of the smaller segment.