Simulation Analysis of Hydrodynamic Ram Phenomenon in Composite Fuel Tank to Fragment Impact

Hydrodynamic ram (HRAM) caused by fragments impacting and penetrating through fuel tanks has great effect on aircraft survivability. In the present paper, in order to evaluate the damage characteristics of a composite fuel tank facing fragments impacting, the finite-element code PAM-Crash has been employed to simulate an HRAM event. Using Smoothing Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method, the fluid-Cstructure interaction between walls and fuel has been solved. Basing on comparative analyses on damage degree of different position, high risk region has been confirmed. Through comparing with aluminum tank, the characteristics of damage and failure of the composite tank are analyzed. Emulation results show that the approach of SPH is capable of analyzing the HRAM. Comparing with metal tank, composite tank is easier to occur overall damage on many walls, but it has clear direction and can be forecasted, and easy to table improving proposals.