This paper studies the crashworthiness characteristics of a fuselage section and its improvement. A full-scale three-dimensional finite element model of the fuselage section is developed using a nonlinear finite element code, PAM-CRASH. The simulation is implemented to determine the structural deformation and impact response in terms of peak loads and acceleration peaks at the floor-level, deformation mode, energy absorption, and structural integrity, and then to assess the crashworthiness of the fuselage section. By partitioning the total energy dissipated, it is shown that the frames and the supports of the cargo floor play important roles in the process of energy dissipation. Based on the results, an effective approach to improve the crashworthiness of the fuselage section is presented. The paper also provides an in-depth analysis in the deformation mechanism of the fuselage section under a vertical crash, which will be helpful to effectively prevent the cabin floor from heavily damage and maintain the integrity of the fuselage section.

Since damage evolutions of materials play important roles in simulations, such as ballistic impacts and collisions, a new experimental and numerical method is established to determine the revised Johnson–Cook (JC) failure parameters of a 2618 aluminum alloy and a Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy. Not only the strain distributions, but also the stress triaxialities of designed specimens with different notches, are analyzed and revised using the finite element (FE) model. Results show that the largest strain concentrated on the surface of the circumferential area where the initial damage happened, which coincided with the practical damage evolution in the FE model. The complete damage strain, which denoted the largest strain before fracture calculated by the picture, is put forward to replace the traditional failure strain. Consequently, the digital image correlation (DIC) method and the micro speckle are carried out to measure the complete strain from the circumferential area. In addition, the relationships between the complete damage strain, the revised stress triaxiality, the strain rate and the temperature are established by conducting the quasi-static and dynamic experiments under different temperatures. Finally, the simulations for the ballistic impact tests are conducted to validate the accuracy of the parameters of the revised JC damage model.

Increase of energy absorption along with smooth load displacement curve, reduced peak force and high mean crushing force is the key in the modern dynamic design of structures. In this regard, a new metallic tubular configuration consisting of uni-sectional bi-tubular inner tubes, with outer tubes of multiple varied cross-sections is proposed and crushed under axial dynamic loading. A number of configurations are proposed ranging from simple to complex polygonal sections defined in three groups. Deformation modes and energy absorption characteristics such as peak crushing force, mean crushing force, and specific energy absorption are determined and discussed for each configuration. The proposed arrangement shows a stable crushing and higher values of crush force efficiency. In order to select the most suitable configuration, on the basis of maximum specific energy absorption, peak crushing force and minimum peak force, a robust decision making method known as Complex Proportional Assessment (COPRAS) is implemented. The optimal configuration in each group is determined on the basis of higher values of specific energy absorption, crush force efficiency and a lower value of peak crushing force, using the chosen weighting factors in COPRAS implementation. Finally, the configuration with inner and outer hexagonal tubes is found to be the best possible design concept among the top members of each group, with peak crushing force, mean crushing force and crush force efficiency values of 69.8 KN, 7.3 KJ and 0.75, respectively.