Numerical modeling of bird and drone strikes on composite radome structures
Abstract
Abstract This study numerically investigates high-speed impacts on composite radomes against bird and drone strikes. With the rising UAV activity near flight paths, traditional bird-strike numerical models no longer capture all foreign object damage risks. Simulations were conducted on sandwich and laminated radomes using LS-DYNA. Birds were modeled with Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) to represent fluid-like deformation, while drones were modeled as multi-component solids to capture stiffness. Results show that bird impacts cause broad-area deformations and delamination, whereas drones produce localized puncture or penetration. Findings show the need to include UAV strikes in aerospace safety procedures.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Elasticity and Material Modeling
Composite Material Mechanics
Acoustic Wave Phenomena Research
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Physics Conference Series
- Publisher
- IOP Publishing
- Volume
- 3271
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 012021–012021
- Publication date
- 1 June 2026