DESIGN OF HELICOPTER CRASHWORTHINESS. IN: CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS OF ENERGY ABSORPTION OF AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES AS AN ASPECT OF CRASHWORTHINESS (66TH), HELD IN LUXEMBOURG ON MAY 1-6 1988

The extensive use of composite materials in helicopter structures has prompted new research activities in crashworthiness in the last decade. A rational design of crashworthy structures requires a great deal of data and experience to be collected and organized; in particular the most efficient mechanisms of energy adsorption must be understood and carefully investigated and consequently the best structural concepts and detail design can be identified. With this aim and in cooperation with Augusta Helicopters a research program has been undertaken, covering many of the basic aspects of crashworthy design, i.e. dynamic modeling, design, and verification procedures.