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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has sponsored research to evaluate an externally deployable composite honeycomb designed to attenuate loads in the event of a helicopter crash. The concept, designated the deployable energy absorber (DEA), is an expandable Kevlar honeycomb. The DEA incorporates a flexible hinge that allows the honeycomb to be stowed collapsed until needed during an emergency. Evaluation of the DEA began with material characterization of the Kevlar-129 fabric/epoxy and ended with a full-scale crash test of a retrofitted MD-500 helicopter. During each evaluation phase, finite-element (FE) models of the test articles were developed, and simulations were performed using the dynamic FE code LS-DYNA. This paper focuses on simulations of two full-scale impact tests involving the DEA: a mass simulator and a DEA-retrofitted MD-500 helicopter. Isotropic (Mat 24) and composite (Mat 58) material models that were assigned to DEA shell elements were compared. Based on simulation results, the Mat 58 model showed better agreement with the test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the experimental and analytical evaluation of an externally deployable composite honeycomb structure that is designed to attenuate impact energy during helicopter crashes. The concept, designated the deployable energy absorber (DEA), uses an expandable Kevlar honeycomb to dissipate kinetic energy through crushing. The DEA incorporates a unique flexible-hinge design that enables the honeycomb to be packaged and stowed efficiently until needed for deployment. Experimental evaluation of the DEA included dynamic crush tests of multicell components and vertical drop tests of a composite fuselage section retrofitted with DEA blocks onto multiterrain. Finite-element models of the test articles were developed and simulations were performed using the transient dynamic code LS-DYNA. In each simulation, the DEA was represented using shell elements assigned two different material properties: Mat 24, an isotropic piecewise linear plasticity model, and Mat 58, a continuum damage mechanics model used to represent laminated composite fabrics. DEA model development and test analysis comparisons are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a review of impact mechanics and high-energy absorbing materials is presented. We review different theoretical models (rigid-body dynamics, elastic, shock, and plastic wave propagation, and nonclassical or nonlocal models) and computational methods (finite-element, finite-difference, and mesh-free methods) used in impact mechanics. Some recent developments in numerical simulation of impact (e.g., peridynamics) and new design concepts proposed as high energy absorbing materials (lattice and truss structures, hybrid sandwich composites, metal foams, magnetorheological fluids, porous shape memory alloys) are discussed. Recent studies on experimental evaluation and constitutive modeling of strain rate-dependent polymer matrix composites are also presented. Impact damage on composite materials in aerospace engineering is discussed along with future research needs. A particular example for the design of a sandwich material as an impact mitigator is given in more detail. This brief review is intended to help the readers in identifying starting points for research in modeling and simulation of impact problems and in designing energy absorbing materials and structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Trade Center collapse has brought attention to progressive collapse of tall buildings and the study of possible countermeasures. From the viewpoint of energy transfer, this analysis explains why the collapse could not stop by itself once began. By introducing a design parameter called collapse stability index that controls design against progressive collapse, it is found that conventional design of a tall building usually leads to an inherently unstable structure in the event of a progressive collapse. In a subsequent feasibility study in this paper, a heavy-duty metal-based honeycomb energy absorbing structure is proposed. Using a finite element analysis, it is demonstrated that the structure is capable of absorbing potential energy released in a tall building collapse. The added energy absorbing devices will only occupy a small percentage of the total floor space. By properly designing and installing such devices, a progressive collapse, should it happen in a tall building, may be arrested within a few floors, and hence, the building is inherently stable to the progressive collapse. The theory is also elaborated with the example of the World Trade Center collapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]