Influence of the Bird Model Shape on the Results of Numerical Analyses of Bird Models Impact Against a Rigid Plate

Abstract This paper presents results of numerical analyses of different bird models impacting a rigid plate. The results of the study were compared with findings derived from experimental research. The experimental studies were conducted using a dedicated gas gun kit. A gelatine projectile was used as a bird model, giving it a speed of 116 m/s. For the purpose of the numerical investigations, the authors used the LS-DYNA software package. It is a computational code for the analysis of fast-variable phenomena using different methods, such as Lagrange, Arbitrary Lagrange-Euler (ALE), Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH). Three cylindrical bird models with different endings were developed using the SPH method. The shape of the end of the bird model was found to exert a significant effect on the Hugoniot pressure values. However, it does not affect the maximum value of the impact force. The differences only occurred at the initial moment of impact, which was related with the area of contact between the model end and the target.