ASTM F330-21 Standard Test Method for Bird Impact Testing of Aerospace Transparent Enclosures

A test to perform bird strike tests under a standard set of conditions by firing a bird mounted on a support structure and packaged in a fixed aeronautical transparency such as a windshield, canopy, or window, developed by the American Testing and Materials Association (ASTM). method is presented.

The test method in the ASTM F330-21 standard is generally used in the following situations:

• Bird impact testing of aircraft crew compartment transparencies and supporting structure to validate design
• Compilation of test data for use in validation of future transparency and supporting structure design and analytical methods
• Comparative evaluation of materials

This standard does not purport to address all possible safety concerns for use. It is the responsibility of businesses to establish appropriate safety, health and environmental practices and to investigate the applicability of legal regulatory restrictions prior to use.

This test method uses a straight-bore bird gun that fires a chicken carcass, thereby affecting a fixed aerospace transparency mounted on a supporting structure. Certain parameters described by this test method are: bird weight and condition, bird speed and instrumentation.

The apparatus used in these tests are as follows:

• Gun. It consists of a release mechanism, barrel (ejection tube) and sabot (armor-piercing) stripper.
• speed measurement system. The main features of this system are that it is accurate and repeatable, does not change the flight path or damage the projectile.
• Environmental control. The environmental control apparatus is used to heat or cool the test article to the desired temperature upon impact.
• testing equipment. In these tests, weight measurement, mounting angle measurements, temperature measurement, speed measurement and speed frequency measurements are made.

The bird combined with the packaging forms the bullet that impacts the test item. If a real carcass is chosen, it can be a domestic or wild bird, depending on the required weight. The standard weight of the bird used in this test is 1.8 kg.

The operation and maintenance of the weapon must be such that the highest personnel protection is provided at all times. Personnel safety is the most important issue in the development of operating procedures in terms of the safety of the enterprise. Pressure lines should be designed according to approved engineering procedures and adequate safety factors should be considered.

Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides standard testing services for bird impact testing of aviation and space transparent enclosures within the scope of ASTM F330-21 standard, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.