Impact of Boeing 767 Aircraft into the World Trade Center

A numerical simulation of the aircraft impact into the exterior columns of the World Trade Center (WTC) was done using LS-DYNA. For simplification, the fuselage was modeled as a thin walled cylinder, the wings were modeled as box beams with a fuel pocket, and the engines were represented as rigid cylinders. The exterior columns of the WTC were represented as box beams. Actual masses, material properties and dimensions of the Boeing 767 aircraft and the exterior columns of the WTC were used in this analysis. It was found that about 46% of the initial kinetic energy of the aircraft was used to damage columns. The minimum impact velocity of the aircraft to just penetrate the exterior columns would be 130 m/s. It was also found that a Boeing 767 traveling at top speed would not penetrate exterior columns of the WTC if the columns were thicker than 20 mm.

Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07339399
Authors:
- Karim, Mohammed R
- Hoo Fatt, Michelle S
Publication Date: 2005-10-1

Language

English

Media Info

Media Type: Print
Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
Pagination: pp 1066-1072
Serial:
- Journal of Engineering Mechanics
- Volume: 131
- Issue Number: 10
- Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
- ISSN: 0733-9399
- EISSN: 1943-7889
- Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/journal/jenmdt

Subject/Index Terms

TRT Terms: Aircraft; Building; Columns; Impact; Kinetic energy; Simulation; Structures; Terrorism; Towers
Identifier Terms: Boeing 767 aircraft; Terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; World Trade Center
Geographic Terms: New York (New York)
Subject Areas: Aviation; Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Highways; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

Accession Number: 01005824
Record Type: Publication
Files: TRIS
Created Date: Oct 21 2005 7:58AM