Assessment of Crash-Resistant Helicopter Fuel Tank with Composite Compartment Simulation for Drop Test

Investigations on accidents of helicopters show that the death toll led by post-crash fires during helicopter crashes is most. Therefore, severe requirements for fuel system certification were built up. Now, fuel system crashworthiness has become the first concern in the design of helicopter fuel system. In this study work, a finite element model for a crash-resistant fuel tank with two fuel bladders and its composite fuel tank compartment was introduced. The interaction between fuel bladders and composite fuel tank compartment were investigated by fluid-solid coupling. Experimental drop test was performed utilizing real fuel tank simulacra. The data obtained were used to validate the fuel system finite element model. The failure of the fuel tank was acquired. Results of simulation were verified by the drop test. A good experimental-numerical correlation was obtained. It shows that numerical method is valuable for the design of crash-resistant helicopter fuel tank. The simulation method is reliable. The experience acquired in this study work will contribute to accomplish the certification of a modified helicopter fuel tank configuration. But its original configuration should be certified by drop tests previously.