Exploring Design Options for Wing Leading Edge Against Bird Strike

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of bird strike on the wing leading edge of a trainer aircraft in accordance with the European Aviation Safety Agency’s CS-23 standards (“Normal, Utility, Aerobatic and Commuter Aeroplanes,” Certification Specifications, Part 23, Occupant Physical Environment), and it compares various options for the design of energy-absorbing support structures. In this study, the bird model with hemispherical-ended cylindrical geometry is simulated using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics finite element approach. After validating the impact of the bird model on a rigid plate, a bird strike on the wing leading edge is modeled; and the results are compared with the existing experimental and simulation data available in the literature. Finally, different design options for the support structure configurations of the wing leading edge (including traditional rib design, honeycomb sandwich, triangular reinforcement, and negative Poisson ratio structures) are evaluated, and the results are compared. It is found that a honeycomb sandwich panel support structure provides the best collision and weight performance.