Numerical modelling of partially filled aircraft fuel tanks submitted to Hydrodynamic Ram

Hydrodynamic Ram (HRAM) is a phenomenon that occurs when a high-kinetic energy object penetrates a fluid-filled container. The projectile transfers its momentum and kinetic energy through the fluid to the surrounding structure, increasing the risk of catastrophic failure and excessive structural damage. This is of particular concern in the design of wing fuel tanks for aircraft since it has been identified as one of the important factors in aircraft vulnerability. Usually the HRAM phenomenon is analyzed considering completely filled tanks, but its effect on partially filled containers should also be taken into account due to the fact that tanks use to be impacted under these conditions. In the present paper, the commercial finite element code LS-DYNA has been used to simulate an HRAM event created by a steel spherical projectile impacting a partially water-filled aluminium square tube. The ALE formulation is employed to reproduce the event. Experimental tests which indicate the pressure at different points of the fluid, displacement of the walls and cavity evolution for different impact velocities, are compared with the numerical results in order to assess the validity and accuracy of the ALE technique in reproducing such a complex phenomenon.