Dataset for Crashworthiness Assessment of the Flying-V Under Complex Crash Scenarios with Partially Detailed Structures

This dataset is the official implementation of the following Master's Thesis:

Tiago Ferreira da Costa (2024). Crashworthiness Assessment of the Flying-V Under Complex Crash Scenarios with Partially Detailed Structures [Master's thesis, Delft University of Technology]. TU Delft Repository. https://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:c9bd679a-d43f-4eb2-b282-bcf352510669

Also published as a conference paper in:

Tiago Ferreira da Costa, Andrea Villa, Calvin Rans, Saullo G. P. Castro. Crashworthiness Assessment of the Flying-V Under Complex Crash Scenarios With Partially Detailed Structures. AIAA Scitech 2025 Forum. 10.2514/6.2025-0622. View/Download

Abstract

This research delves into aircraft crashworthiness, focusing on the innovative Flying-V configuration, aiming to improve safety in unconventional designs. Challenges arise due to the Flying-V's unique V-shaped fuselage, complicating traditional crashworthiness assessments. To address this, the study proposes modelling approaches, particularly for the central part of the fuselage lacking detailed structural information.
Various modelling approaches are explored, building on a finite element model of the Flying-V developed in previous work. Drop tests validate optimal section designs, emphasizing a minimum vertical impact velocity. Spatial variations in Dynamic Response Index (DRI) and Severity Index (SEV) prompt nuanced studies on impact scenarios and potential passenger side loads.

As the analysis progresses, extending the computational domain becomes crucial for reliability. Insights into weight distribution imbalances and challenges with corrective measures emerge from analyses of extended fuselage sections. Spatial fluctuations in DRIs and SEVs underscore the need for a balanced approach between computational efficiency and result realism.

A newly introduced modelling technique leveraging moments of inertia is implemented, yielding realistic results for straightforward scenarios and reducing simulation time significantly. Further analysis explores intricate landing scenarios, highlighting differences between full and reduced models, particularly at elevated pitch angles.
Recognizing the limitations of simplified methodologies, a submodelling technique is proposed for extreme crash scenarios, effectively capturing engine section dynamics with reduced computational time.

While reduced modelling techniques show promise, the study underscores the need for a comprehensive finite element method representation of the Flying-V, recommending successive simulations with a coarse overall mesh followed by submodelling for detailed assessment of critical regions.

Description

The present project includes Abaqus input files of the baseline, extended, and full models, as well as reduced modelling and submodelling techniques. Moreover, Python scripts are available for various comparisons among the models.

Authors

- Tiago Ferreira da Costa 

- Andrea Villa
  - Affiliation: SIMULIA Team at Dassault Systèmes Office, Milan, Italy

- Calvin Rans (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5539-1262)
  - Affiliation: Department of Aerospace Structures and Materials, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2629HS, the Netherlands  

- Saullo G.P. Castro  (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9711-0991) 
  - Affiliation: CrashProofLab, Department of Aerospace Structures and Materials, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 2629HS, the Netherlands  
  - Role: Corresponding author  
  - Email: S.G.P.Castro@tudelft.nl

Folder structure

Crashworthiness Assessment
├───4S-5_20_10
│   └───Energy_exports_Marco_Model
├───Angular Velocities
├───DRI_Plots_update
│   ├───Engine Section
│   ├───Full Model
│   └───Reduced Model Engine
├───DT_Elongated_RemovedSeats
│   └───Energy_exports_RemovedSeats_Model
├───DT_Elongated_Sliding
│   └───Energy_exports_RemovedSeats_Slide_Model
├───DT_Inertia_RemovedSeats
│   └───Energy_exports_RemovedSeats_Inertia_Model
├───DT_Marco_Damage
│   └───Energy_exports_Marco_Damage_Model
├───Elongated Damage Roll Analysis
├───Energy Analysis
│   ├───Acceleration Boundary Condition
│   │   ├───Bottom_Skin_point
│   │   ├───Floor_Long_Beam_Point
│   │   └───Middle_Floor_Beam_Point
│   ├───Extended Fuselage
│   ├───Moments of Inertia
│   ├───Pitch Analysis
│   │   ├───Acceleration
│   │   │   ├───Front_part
│   │   │   └───Full
│   │   ├───ALLKE
│   │   │   └───Normalized KEG
│   │   ├───ALLPD
│   │   ├───PD Energy over time
│   │   │   ├───Full Model 0°
│   │   │   ├───Full Model 10°
│   │   │   ├───Full Model 15°
│   │   │   └───Full Model 5°
│   │   └───RF
│   ├───Reduced Model Validation
│   │   ├───ALLKE
│   │   ├───ALLPD
│   │   └───PD Energy over time
│   │       ├───Reduced Model 0°
│   │       ├───Reduced Model 10° and 15°
│   │       └───Reduced Model 5°
│   ├───Roll Analysis
│   │   ├───Acceleration Magnitude
│   │   │   ├───Left side
│   │   │   │   ├───With Moments of Inertia
│   │   │   │   └───Without Moments of Inertia
│   │   │   └───Right side
│   │   │       ├───With Moments of Inertia
│   │   │       └───Without Moments of Inertia
│   │   ├───ALLKE
│   │   │   ├───With Moments of Inertia
│   │   │   └───Without Moments of Inertia
│   │   └───PD Energy over time
│   │       ├───With Inertia
│   │       │   ├───0°
│   │       │   ├───10°
│   │       │   ├───15°
│   │       │   └───5°
│   │       └───Without Inertia
│   │           ├───0°
│   │           ├───10°
│   │           ├───15°
│   │           └───5°
│   └───Submodeling
│       ├───Acceleration
│       │   └───Full
│       ├───ALLKE
│       ├───ALLPD
│       └───PD Energy over time
│           └───15°
├───Extended Damage
│   └───Energy_exports_Extended_Damage_Model
├───Full Model
│   └───Energy_exports_Full_Model
├───Marco Sliding
│   └───Energy_exports_Marco_Slide_Model
├───Reduced Model Validation
└───SubModeling

For more information, please consult the included readme.txt file.

© 2026 T. Ferreira da Costa, S. G. P. Castro, C. Rans, A. Villa