Simulation of helicopter ditching using smoothed particle hydrodynamics

Abstract

This paper explores the potential use of smoothed particle hydrodynamics methods for helicopter ditching. The method appears suitable for this task since it is mesh-free and can accommodate the interaction between a floating object and the free-surface of water. Simple cases of objects dropped on water were first studied to establish confidence on the method, and quantify the effect of the numerical parameters of SPH including the boundary condition between the water and solid, the effect of the number and type of smoothed particles as well as the generation of different sea-states for the ditching. Once confidence on the method was established, experiments for the ditching of a model-scale helicopter were used for validation. The smoothed particle hydrodynamics method provides good agreement with experiential data for the position and velocity of the helicopter fuselage.