Numerical simulation and experimental validation of guided ditching tests

The oblique water entry of structures with high horizontal speed is investigated in this work. First, the necessity of aircraft ditching analysis as well as the requirements for numerical tools to simulate aircraft ditching are described. The paper provides a brief explanation of an extensive experimental campaign of guided ditching tests carried out in the SMAES project. These tests are then simulated using a hybrid Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics – Finite Elements modeling approach. Most recent advances done in computational modeling are presented and applied to the guided ditching simulation model. Comparison with experimental data in terms of force and strain results is established with the aim to validate the numerical model. Good correlation could be proven for test cases with purely elastic as well as deformable aluminum panels.