Dynamic Simulation of Civil Aircraft Ditching Based on CFD

For the dynamic impact problem of the ditching of civil aircraft, a numerical simulation method was employed. Based on computational fluid dynamics, the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations were solved, combined with the fluid volume model and the full field motion grid to capture the water-air interface, and the six-degrees-of-freedom (6DOF) equations were solved to determine the aircraft's position and attitude. This method was used to study the ditching process of the tail-dragging and high-horizontal-tail type aircraft. The results show that this method can simulate the motion and force during the ditching well. In the early stage of water entry, the aircraft is subjected to a large water impact load, and the suction of the rear body makes the aircraft lift its head. As the speed decreases, the suction decreases, and the aircraft gradually lowers its head and tends to stabilize.