Study of aircraft performance in a planned water landing scenario: ditching

Abstract

[ES] El proyecto trata sobre el estudio del aterrizaje planificado de diferentes aeronaves sobre masas de agua. Tras la toma de contacto con la superficie, se lleva a cabo un estudio hidrostático y de estabilidad con el fin de observar la evolución de la aeronave tanto longitudinalmente como lateralmente. Adicionalmente, se llevan a cabo simulaciones donde la aeronave ha sufrido daños, "damage study", con la casuística de la inundación progresiva del interior del aparato.

[EN] In a complex system like an aircraft, many problems may arise during its operational life cycle. It may occur that, due to any malfunction of the various systems that compose the aircraft, it is required to perform an emergency landing. When this is carried out in a planned fashion over water surfaces, it is named as ditching. Several studies have tackled the ditching event from the fluid-structure interaction point of view, mainly by working out the different loads that arise. On the other hand, the cornerstone of this project is the assessment of the aircraft qualities once the ditching has occurred. For that purpose, the conventional B737 is assessed in conjunction with a Blended Wing Body aircraft, allowing for the comparison between these two configurations. 3D models for these two aircraft were created and their performance on water and stability was studied in both intact and damage cases by monitoring the displacement, freeboard distance door-waterline and trim angle. Furthermore, different load cases were examined. The results show favorable properties for the B737 and the BWB in intact scenarios. However, the progressive flooding of lower compartments in the BWB lead to a final situation in which the water level is above the doors of the aircraft, compromising severely the survivability of passengers and crew.