SIMULIA's blog

Bird impact damage in complex aircraft structure has been investigated using explicit transient dynamic analysis by Abaqus/Explicit in order to fully employ its large library of elements, material models and the ability of implementing user defined materials. The numerical procedure has been applied on the very detailed large airplane secondary structure consisting of sandwich, composite and metallic structural items that have been modeled with 3D, shell and continuum shell elements, coupled with appropriate kinematic constraints.

Innovative composite structures are increasingly being used in the aircraft industry. A critical point of these new composite parts is the attachment to the surrounding aircraft structure. In cooperation between different EADS Business Units, a new advanced composite load introduction rib is developed to minimize weight and manufacturing costs. The new design of the flap focuses on the load introduction rib and drive fitting including the integrated lugs for the attachment to the flap support structure.

Boeing and Skyhook International entered into an agreement whereby Boeing will design and build two prototypes of the new Skyhook HLV aircraft. This hybrid airship is intended to carry 40 tons of cargo 100 miles. Due to the flexible, non-linear nature of fabric airship envelopes, as well as the complexity of designing a hybrid airship, the internal loads model for this aircraft is being developed in Abaqus and will be solved non-linearly.