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Experimental investigation of the crashworthiness of scaled composite sailplane fuselagesThe crash dynamics and energy absorption of composite sailplane fuselage segments undergoing nose-down impact were investigated. More than 10 quarter-scale structurally similar test articles, typical of high-performance sailplane designs, were tested. Fuselages segments were fabricated of combinations of fiberglass, graphite, Kevlar, and Spectra fabric materials. Quasistatic and dynamic tests were conducted. The quasistatic tests were found to replicate the strain history and failure modes observed in the dynamic tests. Failure modes of the quarter-scale model were qualitatively compared with full-scale crash evidence and quantitatively compared with current design criteria. By combining material and structural improvements, substantial increases in crashworthiness were demonstrated.
Document ID
19890054648
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Kampf, Karl-Peter
(Braunschweig, Technische Universitaet Brunswick, Federal Republic of Germany, United States)
Crawley, Edward F.
(Technische Univ. Brunswick, Germany)
Hansman, R. John, Jr.
(MIT Cambridge, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Aircraft
Volume: 26
ISSN: 0021-8669
Subject Category
Aircraft Design, Testing And Performance
Accession Number
89A42019
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG1-690
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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