Simula Technologies, Inc., and the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground have initiated an internally funded program to develop a test facility and test methodologies for conducting full-scale aircraft water dynamic impact tests. The test facility and test methodologies for conducting pure vertical impacts has been completed, and a combined vertical/longitudinal test facility is near completion. Methods of instrumentation and data acquisition have been developed and demonstrated. A 24-ft/sec vertical drop test of an instrumented UH-1H helicopter shell onto a water surface has been completed. This test indicated that water impacts can induce a relatively high acceleration onset rate when compared to ground impacts. A high acceleration onset rate, coupled with a lack of landing gear interaction with the impact surface, can increase the lethality of the crash in terms of occupant spinal loading and seat stroke required. Several UH-1H helicopter shells have been procured and are available for future water impact tests. The test facility is also capable of conducting full-scale vehicle crash impacts into other surfaces, if desired.
Development of a water impact dynamic test facility and crash testing a UH-1H aircraft onto a water surface
1999
12 Seiten, 2 Quellen
Conference paper
English
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