INVESTIGATION OF TRANSPORT AIRPLANE FUSELAGE FUEL TANK INSTALLATIONS UNDER CRASH CONDITIONS

Three contemporary fuel tank installation configurations investigated in this study include: (1) a comfortable tank containing a bladder and supported within a dedicated structure; (2) a double wall cylindrical strap in an auxiliary tank; and (3) bladder cells fitted in the lower fuselage. Existing crash design criteria are reviewed, as well as current proposals which could affect fuel tank installations. Program KRASH was used to help evaluate the performance of a fuselage mounted tank when subjected to dynamic loads. A total of 21 cases were analyzed including 12 vertical impacts and 9 longitudinal pulse conditions and/or configurations. The analytical models included 120-inch sections, 300-inch segments and full airplane representations. Results in the form of floor and fuel tank accelerations, floor and fuel tank attachment loads and fuselage crush were obtained. Two test conditions are proposed to represent conditions that best meet the crash design criteria developed in a previous FAA sponsored parametric study, as well as to recognize realistic structures and tests that can be run.

• Corporate Authors:

  Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company

  2555 North Hollywood Way
  Burbank, CA  United States  91505
• Authors:
  • WITTLIN, G
• Publication Date: 1989-7

Media Info

• Pagination: 92 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air transportation; Aircraft; Crash investigation; Dynamic loads; Fuel tanks; Installation; Studies
• Old TRIS Terms: Auxiliary liquid fuel tank
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00493991
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FAA/CT-88/24, LR-31443
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 30 1990 12:00AM