Numerical Simulation of Fluid Solid Interaction of a Passenger Plane Ditching in Water

Document Type : Solid Mechanics

Authors

1 Master's degree, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Ditching is an important challenge in the safety of air vehicles and has not been investigated yet from the perspective of damage mechanics. In this research first, using the Abaqus software, an arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian model is created to numerically simulate the fluid solid interaction of the ditching of a passenger plane with real scale in water. Then, the simulations are carried out in the case of elastic deformations, compared with the results of previous studies and validated. The elastic simulations are far from the real state, so for the more accurate study, the rate dependent plastic criterion with the isotropic hardening combined with the ductile damage criterion are added to precisely predict the damaged and fractured zones of the aircraft structure as well as the negative acceleration applied to the passengers. Finally, the effect of important parameters such as the angle of the plane, angle of the plane speed, and speed value during the ditching on the forces transferred to the cabin and passengers are investigated. The results reveal that the angle of the plane with the horizon of 10 to 15 degree, the angle of the plane's speed vector with the horizon of 10 degree, and the maximum ditching speed of 15 meter per second are the appropriate range of each of the effective parameters to have a safe ditching and avoid the risk of death of the passengers.

Graphical Abstract

Numerical Simulation of Fluid Solid Interaction of a Passenger Plane Ditching in Water

Keywords

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References

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Aerospace Mechanics
Volume 21, Issue 3 - Serial Number 81
Autumn
October 2025
Pages 11-25

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History

  • Receive Date: 15 April 1404
  • Revise Date: 15 June 1404
  • Accept Date: 23 June 1404
  • Publish Date: 21 February 2026

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