Tel: (757) 864-4145 Fax: (757) 864-8547
Email: Edwin.Fasanella@nianet.org
Research Interests
- Nonlinear dynamic finite element analysis of structures
- Human tolerance to impact
- Aircraft crash impact analysis
- Material failure analysis
Education
- Ph.D. (1969), Physics, Duke University
- B.S. (1965), Physics, N. C. State University
Current Research
Nonlinear dynamic finite element analysis: Methods to improve dynamic nonlinear finite element analyses of aircraft and spacecraft structures for severe landings and crashes onto soil, hard-surfaces, and water are being researched. Better dynamic models of aerospace materials, including layered composites of carbon and Kevlar, and covering the regimes from elastic through plastic to failure including rate effects are a particular concern.
Human and human surrogate impact tolerance: Limitations of human injury risk criteria used to estimate the severity of occupant injury and survivability for aerospace vehicle impacts are being evaluated. Both physical crash test dummies and test dummy math models for multidirectional impacts are investigated. Aircraft crashes subject occupants to vertical impact forces that are rarely seen in automotive crashes
Recent publications
Heymsfield, E, Fasanella, E. L., Hardy, R., and Boitnott, R., “Assessment of Soil Modeling Capability for Orion Contingency Land Landing,” Journal of Aerospace Engineering, Vol. 25, 2012.
Bolukbasi A., Crocco J., Clarke C., Fasanella, E., Jackson K.,Keary P.,Labun L., Mapes P., McEntire J., Pellettiere J., Pilati B., Rumph F., Schuck J., Schultz M. Smith M., and Vasquez D., “Full Spectrum Crashworthiness Criteria for Rotorcraft,” RDECOM Technical Report TR 12-D-12, December 2011.
Fasanella, E. L., Jackson, K. E., Lyle, K. H., Jones, L. E., Hardy, R. C., Kellas, S., Carney, K. S., Melis, M. E., “Dynamic Impact Tolerance of Shuttle RCC Leading Edge Panels Using LS-DYNA,” AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Volume 45, Number 5, Sept/Oct 2008, pp.1042-1052. (NASA LaRC Reid Award for Best NASA Paper 2009
Jackson, K. E., and Fasanella, E. L., Qualification by Analysis, Chapter 9. Crashworthiness, NATO Research and Technology Organization (RTO) Technical Report RTO-TR-AVT-092, July 2009, pp. 9-1 through 9-20.
Fasanella, Edwin L., “Multiterrain Earth Landing Systems Applicable for Manned Space Capsules,” Journal of Aerospace Engineering, Vol 22, Number 3, p201-213, July 2009.
Lawrence, Charles, Littell, Justin D, Fasanella, Edwin L, and Tabiei, Ala, “Orion Crew Member Injury Predictions during Land and Water Landings,” Journal of Aerospace Engineering, Vol 22, Number 3, p214-221, July 2009.
Fasanella, E. L., Jackson, K. E., Lyle, K. L., Sparks, C. E., and Sareen, A. K., “Multi-Terrain Impact Tests and Simulations of an Energy Absorbing Fuselage Section,” Journal of the American Helicopter Society, Vol. 52, Number 2, April 2007, pp.159- 168.
Conference Papers and other Peer Reviewed Papers
Jackson, K.E., Fasanella, E. L., and Polanco, M. A., “Simulating the Response of a Composite Honeycomb Energy Absorber: Part 1. Dynamic Crushing of DEA Components and Multi-Terrain Impacts,” Proceedings of the 2012 ASCE Earth and Space Conference, Special Symposium on Ballistic Impact and Crashworthiness, Pasadena, CA, April 15-18, 2012.
Fasanella, E. L., Annett, M.S. and Polanco, M. A., “Simulating the Response of a Composite Honeycomb Energy Absorber: Part 2. Full-Scale Impact Testing,” Proceedings of the 2012 ASCE Earth and Space Conference, Special Symposium on Ballistic Impact and Crashworthiness, Pasadena, CA, April 15-18, 2012.
Jackson, K. E., Fasanella, E. L., Annett, M. S., and Polanco, M. P., “Material Model Evaluation of a Composite Honeycomb Energy Absorber,” Proceedings of the 12th International LS-DYNA Users Conference, Dearborn, MI, June 3-5, 2012.
Jackson K.E., Kellas S., Horta L.G., Annett M.S., Polanco M.A., Littell, J.D., and Fasanella E.L., “Experimental and Analytical Evaluation of a Composite Honeycomb Deployable Energy Absorber,” NASA Technical Memorandum, NASA-TM-2011-217301, November 2011.
Fasanella, E. L., Lyle, K. H., and Jackson, K. E., “Developing Soil Models for Dynamic Impact Simulations,” Proceedings of the 65th AHS Forum, Grapevine, TX, May 27-29, 2009.
Jackson, K. E., and Fasanella, E.L., “Development and Validation of a Finite Element Simulation of a Vertical Drop Test of an ATR 42 Regional Transport Airplane,” DOT/FAA/AR-08/19, June 2008.
Fasanella, E. L., Jackson, K. E., and Kellas, S., “Soft Soil Impact Testing and Simulation of Aerospace Structures,” Proceedings of the 10th LS-DYNA Users Conference, Dearborn, MI, June 8-10, 2008.
Tabiei, A., Lawrence, C. L., and Fasanella, E. L., “Validation of Finite Element Crash Test Dummy Models for the Prediction of Orion Crew Member Injuries During a Simulated Vehicle Landing,” 10th LS-DYNA Users Conference, Dearborn, MI, June 8-10, 2008.
Lawrence, C. L., Fasanella, E. L., Tabiei, A., Brinkley, James W., and Shemwell, David M., “The Use of a Vehicle Acceleration Exposure Limit model and a Finite Element Crash Test Dummy Model to Evaluate the Risk of Injuries During Orion Crew Module Landings.” NASA TM-2008-215198, April 2008.
Fasanella, Edwin L., “Multi-Terrain Earth Landing Systems Applicable for Manned Space Capsules,” ASCE Earth and Space Conference, Long Beach, CA, March 3-5, 2008.
Lawrence, Charles, Littell, Justin D., Fasanella, Edwin L, and Tabiei, Ala, “Orion Crew Member Injury Predictions during Land and Water Landings.” ASCE Earth and Space Conference, Long Beach, CA, March 3-5, 2008.
Jackson, W. C., Jackson, K. J., Fasanella, E. L., Kelley, J., “Analysis of the Effects of Sea Disposal on a One-Ton Container,” NASA-TM-2007-214881, ARL-TR-3883, July 2007.
Campbell, Charles H., Driver, David M., Alter, Stephen J., Fasanella, Edwin L., Wood, William A, and Stone, Jeffrey S., “Orbiter Gap Filler Bending Model for Re-entry,” AIAA Reno Conference, January 2007.
Fasanella, E. L., Invited Elias Klein Memorial Lecture, “Space Shuttle Orbiter Debris Impact Studies – the Behavior of Soft Foam at Ballistic Velocities,” SAVIAC Symposium Proceedings, 2006.