Ballistic Penetration Test and Simulation of Metallic Aircraft Wing Fuel Tank

• Published in: International journal of aeronautical and space sciences Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 303 - 314
• Main Authors: Kim, Jong Heon, Seo, Bohwi, Choi, Kisub, Sung, Siyul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul The Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences (KSAS) 01.02.2023; 한국항공우주학회
• Subjects: Aerospace Technology and Astronautics; Engineering; Fluid- and Aerodynamics; Original Paper; 항공우주공학; Ballistic penetration; Battle damage; Structural vulnerability and survivability; Hydrodynamic ram; Aircraft fuel tank
• ISSN: 2093-274X; 2093-2480
• DOI: 10.1007/s42405-022-00565-1

The development of a fighter aircraft requires reasonable assessment and validation of airframe survivability against weapon threats. Fulfilling this objective and effectively meeting the combat survivability requirements necessitates enhanced design based on simulated battle damage and organized live fire tests. The hydrodynamic ram effect occurs when a projectile penetrates the wing fuel tank of an aircraft and is the largest single source of aircraft losses. In this study, battle damage prediction and assessment of an aircraft wing fuel tank subjected to the penetration of a ballistic projectile were therefore undertaken using a two-stage live fire test and corresponding simulations. The correlation between test and simulation results was confirmed, thereby establishing techniques for testing and simulating the hydrodynamic ram effect on the aircraft sub-assembly level.