Tyre Impact on Optimized Composite Wing panel

The TIOC-Wing project focused on enhancing the use of realistic simulations and virtual testing in the design and certification phases of aeronautical components. This approach has gained acceptance from airworthiness authorities due to the increased confidence in numerical simulation methods validated by extensive testing. The project's primary goal was to develop and validate criteria and virtual testing methodologies for predicting the resistance of a stiffened composite wing panel subjected to tyre debris impact and assessing the residual strength of the damaged structure.

To achieve this, TIOC-Wing conducted a comprehensive test program centered on tyre debris impact events on composite aircraft structures. The acquired experimental data were used to advance and validate numerical computational tools. The consortium, comprising SONACA, DGA-TA, and CENAERO, brought together expertise in composite materials, impact testing, and advanced numerical simulations.

The project aimed to enable the early prediction of specific risks during the aircraft development phase, which would reduce costs and increase competitiveness by integrating advanced computational tools into the design process. This approach also aimed to decrease the number of development tests, thereby reducing non-recurring costs.

TIOC-Wing's outcomes promised potential optimizations in design concepts and weight-saving strategies, ultimately contributing to reduced CO2 emissions in future aircraft development. The project's innovative methods provided significant benefits for the industrial partners, enhancing their expertise in aircraft vulnerability to foreign object impacts and facilitating more efficient compliance with certification requirements.