Evaluate the crashworthiness response of an aircraft fuselage section with luggage contained in the cargo hold

This article investigates the effect of luggage on the crashworthiness of fuselage section with under-floor cargo compartment. Detailed nonlinear finite element models of an aircraft fuselage section with and without luggage were developed for crash simulations which were subjected to the velocity of 9.14 m/s. The overall deformation of the fuselage, the acceleration time histories at selected locations on the fuselage and the energy absorption of key structural components were studied. It was determined that the under-floor luggage and the fuselage frame play the most important roles in energy absorption during impact which account for 45.62% and 19.42%, respectively, and that the luggage markedly affects the deformation of the entire structure. Without luggage, the cabin structure would be damaged heavily, while with luggage loaded, the integrity of the cabin structure can be maintained. Besides, the luggage model had lower peak acceleration values and shorter pulse durations when compared with the absence of luggage model results. Furthermore, the effects of luggage stiffness, viscosity and the worst-case scenario on crashworthiness were also examined. It was shown that the strength and stiffer luggage could evoke the inherent ability of cargo floor structure to absorb more energy during impact.