Study of impact on helicopter blade

Issam Tawk (1) , Julien Aubry (2) , Pablo Navarro (2) , Jean-François Ferrero (2) , Steven Marguet (2) , Samuel Rivallant (2) , Sandrine Lemaire (3) , Patrice Rauch (3)

1 UOB - University of Balamand [Liban]
2 ICA - Institut Clément Ader
3 EADS IW

This article presents a study of damage in structures that are similar to helicopter blade sections, subjected to an impact. These complex composite structures were impacted by a steel ball of 125 g at impact speed ranging from 30 to 130 m/s. This led to properly highlight the kinematics of the impact and to define the sequence of the damage’s mechanisms. An explicit FE model is also presented. The damage modelling of the roving is performed through a scale change. It allows a good representation of observed experimental behaviour. As the mesh density is low, it can be used for the modelling of a real structure.

Mots clés: Composite; Impact; Finite element analysis; Damage assessment

Domaines: Génie mécanique [physics.class-ph]

Issam Tawk, Julien Aubry, Pablo Navarro, Jean-François Ferrero, Steven Marguet, et al.. Study of impact on helicopter blade. Engineering Failure Analysis, 2012, 24, pp.38-45. ⟨10.1016/j.engfailanal.2012.03.005⟩. ⟨hal-01853068⟩