Vulnerability assessment to projectiles: Approach definition and application to helicopter platforms

Survivability is defined as the capability of a platform to avoid or withstand man-made hostile environment. Military aircraft in particular, but also other kinds platforms subjected external, impacting threats, are commonly designed according increasing survivability requirements. The concept was first formalized by R. Ball 1985 its seminal work on combat survivability. On basis theory presented his work, many computer programs have been developed which implement modelling techniques and computations required vulnerability assessments. However, clear general view operative computational procedures still lacking. Moreover, date only limited number applications helicopter investigated field, even though these experience numerous flight conditions exposing system different types threats. In this context, aims at establishing multi-purpose framework for assessment external with focus helicopters. in-house software specifically application here described detail employed present case study representative military helicopter.