A multi-body systems approach to simulate helicopter occupant protection systems

This paper reports on the work of computer simulations carried out at Coventry University as part of the European 6th Framework HeliSafe TA project, which considered the potential improvements in occupant safety for civil helicopters. A multi-body systems approach with additional use of finite elements for critical components such as a pilot airbag and the harnesses was adopted in the computer models to simulate helicopter crash/rollover scenarios and to investigate the effectiveness of occupant protection systems deployed during helicopter crash scenarios. ADAMS and Madymo simulations of helicopter impact/rollover events were demonstrated. A cabin/cockpit model of a Bell UH-1D helicopter was developed to replicate the physical crash test setup and a parametric study for the pilot airbag and a range of harness concepts was performed. The use of validated multi-body systems-based cabin/cockpit models has proved to be effective in the development of new restraint system concepts for occupant protection.