Comparisons of the Impact Responses of a 1S-Scale Model and a Full-Scale Crashworthy Compos.pdf

Comparisons of the Impact Responses of a 1/5-Scale Model and a Full-ScaleCrashworthy Composite Fuselage Section Karen E. Jackson and Edwin L. Fasanella Karen H. Lyle k.e.jackson@larc.nasa.gov, e.l.fasanella@larc.nasa.gov k.h.lyle@larc.nasa.gov US Army Research Laboratory Structural Dynamics Branch Vehicle Technology Directorate NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA Hampton, VA Abstract A 25-fps vertical drop test of a 1/5-scale model composite fuselage section was conducted to replicate a previous test of afull-scale fuselage section. The purpose of the test was to obtain experimental data characterizing the impact response of the1/5-scale model fuselage section for comparison with the corresponding full-scale data. This comparison is performed toassess the scaling procedures and to determine if scaling effects are present. For the drop test, the 1/5-scale model fuselagesection was configured in a similar manner as the full-scale section, with lead masses attached to the floor through simulatedseat rails. Scaled acceleration and velocity responses are compared and a general assessment of structural damage is made.To further quantify the data correlation, comparisons of the average acceleration data are made as a function of floor locationand longitudinal position. Also, the percentage differences in the velocity change (area under the acceleration curve) and thevelocity change squared (proportional to kinetic energy) are compared as a function of floor location. Finally, correlationcoefficients are calculated for corresponding 1/5- and full-scale data channels and these values are plotted versus floor loca-tion. From a scaling perspective, the differences between the 1/5- and full-scale tests are relatively small, indicating that ap-propriate scaling procedures w