Simulation Study on Bird-impact Resistance of an Inlet Protective Net with the SPH Method

SUN Kuo; YUAN Libin; QIAN Xuesen

doi:10.7643/issn.1672-9242.2026.09.014

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Equipment Environmental Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (9) : 125-131. DOI: 10.7643/issn.1672-9242.2026.09.014

Special Topic—Structural Dynamics of Aviation Equipment

Simulation Study on Bird-impact Resistance of an Inlet Protective Net with the SPH Method

SUN Kuo, YUAN Libin, QIAN Xuesen

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Abstract

To prevent birds from entering the engine inlet and ensure the safety of helicopters during near-ground flight, the work aims to design a protective net structure and evaluate its bird-impact resistance. The finite element method was adopted, with reasonable simplifications made to the woven mesh structure. Combined with the SPH method, four different impact velocities (160 km/h, 200 km/h, 240 km/h, and 280 km/h) were selected to simulate the entire process of a bird striking the protective net. Within the considered velocity range, the protective net remained intact without any damage. With the increasing impact velocity, the maximum deformation of the net varied linearly, reaching a maximum of 110.9 mm, while the impact force and the converted internal energy exhibited a nonlinear increasing trend with velocity. It is verified that the protective net structure can withstand bird impacts at velocities up to 280 km/h, thus meeting the strength requirements for practical use. Moreover, this work reveals the dynamic response characteristics of the protective net under bird impact and provides a theoretical basis for the design and optimization of helicopter protective nets.

Key words

SPH method / inlet protective net / bird-impact resistance / simulation study / impact velocities / deformation

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SUN Kuo, YUAN Libin, QIAN Xuesen. Simulation Study on Bird-impact Resistance of an Inlet Protective Net with the SPH Method[J]. Equipment Environmental Engineering. 2026, 23(9): 125-131 https://doi.org/10.7643/issn.1672-9242.2026.09.014

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