EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON DRAG MODEL OF AIRCRAFT ARRESTING SYSTEM

The experimental device was constructed for modeling the drag force exerted on the aircraft which had run into the Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS). A number of experiments were conducted upon the device with variant dimensions of aircraft wheel, speed, carried weight, tire pressure, thickness and strength of the foamed concrete. The behavior of foamed concrete under rolling of aircraft wheel was observed and experimental data were recorded. Based on experiment results, the drag force model was established and its accuracy was verified. It is concluded that: 1) Wheel speed has a minor effect on the drag; 2) Rolled by the wheel, the condition of foamed concrete, either crushed through or crushed halfway, has significant impact on the drag; 3) The foamed concrete strength has complicated influence on the drag, and the increase in material strength may lead to the decrease in drag; 4) The established drag model is consistent well with the experimental observations; 5) The comparsion between the drag model and experimental results shows that the average relative error is less than 10% with the largest one being 17%.