Fuel Tank Energy Attenuation through Fitting Optimization

The U.S. Army seeks improved fuel tank fittings for helicopters that meet crashworthiness requirements while reducing the overall weight of the system. In response to this need, Corvid Technologies (Corvid) proposes to develop optimized fuel tank fittings which exhibit functionally graded properties in collaboration with Boeing and their ongoing Joint Aircraft Survivability Program (JASP) effort to minimize next generation rotorcraft fuel tank system weight, meet crashworthiness requirements, and reduce friction for technology insertion. Corvid will design fittings with multiple optimization techniques, develop and execute a sub-scale test plan on optimized fitting designs, compare results with high fidelity computational simulation, and culminate with capstone system testing to validate crashworthiness. Upon a successful completion of Phase I, a set of optimized fuel tank fittings will be generated, which will undergo further design refinements and consider additional non-crash requirements in the Phase I Option and Phase II efforts.