High Velocity Impact Research for Composite Aircraft Components at DLR - New Gas Gun Test Facilities and Status of Numetrical Modelling

The paper reports on recent trends in High Velocity Impact (HVI) substantiation of transport aircraft (A/C) components by means of HVI tests and numerical simulation with explicit FE codes. The work comprises structural components and impactors such as ice, birds, runway or tyre/rim debris. The tests and simulations are used to support concept, design, and certification phases of A/C structures. To perform HVI tests for proving design concepts and validating numerical modelling, especially for composite and hybrid structures and various impactors, DLR has installed and commissioned a new gas gun test facility comprising three different barrels having calibres of 200mm, 60mm, and 32/25mm