Hazards identification of UERF based on collision detection

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a method of hazards identification of uncontained engine rotor failure (UERF) based on collision detection between geometric models. UERF is a typical particular risk that imposes threat on flight safety of an aircraft. Aircraft systems are made up of many parts and components; therefore, it is difficult to identify hazards caused by UERF early in the design cycle.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology involves the following steps: the mapping relationship of input information is established; the parametric models are used to simulate the uncontained fragments of different categories; the parts and components that the uncontained fragment may collide with are determined by uniform space decomposition and precise collision detection; and the catastrophic hazards are identified with the comparison of the collision detection result sets and the minimum cut sets.

Findings

An application case, which takes the hydraulic system of a certain type of civil aircraft in design as a study object, shows that the method proposed in this paper is suitable and efficient for hazards identification of UERF.

Practical implications

The method proposed herein is useful for acquiring the minimum cut sets that will be triggered by the uncontained fragment in the design phase.

Originality/value

A novel and effective method of hazards identification of UERF for an aircraft with large and complex systems is presented, which is helpful to the optimization of the layout design of parts and components of the aircraft.

Citation

Zhang, Y. and Sun, Y. (2015), "Hazards identification of UERF based on collision detection", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 87 No. 4, pp. 322-329. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-07-2012-0123