Study on Simulated Impact Test Between Bird Body and Inlet Wall

In order to determine the effect of large-angle curved intake ducts on bird ingestion in aircraft engines, simulating specimen impact tests of bird bodies against intake duct walls were conducted to study the changes in bird velocity and integrity after impact, so as to support the anti-bird impact design of aero-engine. Aluminum alloy plates with two different thicknesses and roughness levels were designed to simulate intake duct walls. Pigeons with different masses were launched to impact the aluminum alloy plates. High-speed cameras recorded the impact process to obtain the direction of velocity changes. The experimental results showed that pigeons did not experience rebound after colliding with the plates at different angles, and their velocity directions became tangent to the plate surface. The velocity of the pigeons decreased after impact, and the magnitude of the decrease was mainly related to the impact angle, surface roughness of the test specimen, and thickness of the test specimen. A larger impact angle, greater surface roughness, and greater thickness of the test specimen resulted in a larger reduction in velocity. The integrity of the pigeon body after impact was primarily affected by the impact angle. When the pigeons collided with the plate at angles of 15° and 30°, no fragmentation occurred, but surface abrasions, tearing of muscle tissue, and exposure of organs were observed. In most cases, fragmentation occurred when the pigeons collided with the plate at a 45° angle, with lightweight parts such as the head and wings detaching from the body and significant mass loss.