HAMPTON, Va. –
Years of planning may bring new ideas and technological advances for next generation's aircraft. Researchers at NASA's Langley Research Center Landing and Impact Research facility in Hampton are comprising data in order to improve airframe structure and crash protection for passengers in order to make crashes more survivable.
On Aug. 28, at approximately 1:15 p.m., the LandIR facility team dropped a Sea Knight CH-46E, a helicopter donated by the U.S. Navy Program office, to provide research data on aircraft structures during a crash.
The helicopter, which stretches 45 feet-long and weighs more than 13,000 pounds with equipment was lifted 30 feet high with the use of a gantry, a large structure used to launch aircraft.
"This could mean a better chance of surviving a crash and less severe injuries for passengers," said Richard Boitnott, Landing and Impact Research Facility senior aerospace engineer. "We're testing everything from the floor at impact to the seats and restraints so that their designs may be improved."
The LandIR's mission includes crash modeling and simulation, assessment and analysis, conducting tests and evaluating advanced anthropomorphic test devices, also known as test dummies, for crashworthiness.
The test composed of 13 anthropomorphic test devices, two mannequins, 18 cameras aboard the aircraft, 11 cameras monitoring from outside the aircraft and approximately 350 channels of data.
"The test has taken years to plan, months to get the helicopter and anthropomorphic test devices ready; weeks to sort out the small details and two days to conduct the actual swing test," said Boitnott. "A majority of what we've done is physical work such as reinforcing the floor, but we also needed to plan, advertise and ensure that other agencies were on board."
Dummies were strategically placed in the cockpit, strapped to medical litters, standing with the assistance of cables and placed in forward and side-facing cabin seats. The cameras recording the test ranged from high definition cameras, recording 60 to 120 frames per second, to high-speed cameras, recording 500 to 1000 frames per second.
"This is the most ambitious we've ever been with cameras and their tracking capabilities," said Justin Littell, LandIR test engineer.
Among the cameras researchers used, approximately 8,000 data points painted along the skin of the aircraft to potentially show weak or strong areas during and after impact.
"We've never been able to use this process on an airframe or vehicle this large," said Littell. "But we said 'hey, why not'."
The data is necessary to change regulations for future aircraft structures, which could potentially save lives.
"What will the future look like?" said Martin Annett, LandIR research aerospace engineer. "That's what we're here to figure out. The expected significance is improved crashworthiness of next-generation airframe structures."
The test will provide understanding of a survivable crash according to Boitnott. The joint effort of U.S. Army and Navy Service members and Federal Aviation Administration representatives brought together a test unlike any other performed at NASA's LandIR facility.
The Army used a triple litter on board to test how injured patients may be affected in a crash.
Additional experiments during the test included dummy pedestrians in several positions and aircraft cargo, providing data for a variety of possible scenarios.
"Service members and the general flying public will benefit from this research," said Boitnott. "I really enjoy when a plan finally comes together. We have such great people here at the
LandIR Facility, and when the test is a success, everyone celebrates, especially when we've worked so hard for this. It's a great sight to see."