Aircraft Transparent Wall Mounting With Sacrificial Bird-Strike Pads

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft transparent panels, such as windshields and windows, are not effectively designed to absorb the energy from bird strikes, leading to potential damage and the need for costly replacements.

Innovation Solution

Aircraft transparent walls are attached to a supporting structure using a fastening system with sacrificial energy-absorbing pads that deform plastically to absorb impact energy, allowing for thinner and lighter panels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If transparent panels are made thicker to withstand bird impacts, then impact resistance is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidpanel weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an energy-absorbing pad as an intermediary element between the transparent panel and the supporting structure. This pad deforms plastically during bird strikes to absorb impact energy, allowing the transparent panel itself to be thinner and lighter while maintaining impact resistance. The pad acts as a mediator that handles the shock absorption function, freeing the panel from needing excessive thickness for protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The energy-absorbing pad is designed as a sacrificial, disposable component that deforms irreversibly during significant impacts. After absorbing impact energy through plastic deformation, the pad is replaced during maintenance. This allows the expensive and critical transparent panel to remain thin and lightweight, while the cheaper, replaceable pad handles the impact absorption duty.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Strength

If transparent panels are bonded and/or screwed directly to the supporting structure, then attachment strength is improved, but impact energy absorption is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidimpact energy absorption

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The energy-absorbing pad serves as an intermediary between the transparent panel and supporting structure, replacing direct bonding or screwing. This intermediary element maintains attachment functionality while introducing plastic deformation capability to absorb impact energy, which direct rigid connections cannot provide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening system changes the mechanical parameters of the connection from rigid (direct bonding/screwing) to compliant (plastic deformation of pad). The pad's yield strength and deformation characteristics are specifically designed to absorb impact energy while maintaining secure attachment of the transparent panel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the entire windshield is replaced after bird strike damage, then reliability is restored, but maintenance cost and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewindshield integrityVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the windshield system into separate functional components: the transparent panel and the energy-absorbing pad. This segmentation allows the pad to be independently replaced after impact, while the transparent panel can be retained if undamaged. This reduces maintenance time and cost compared to replacing the entire windshield assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The energy-absorbing pad is designed to be discarded (replaced) after significant impacts that cause plastic deformation, while the transparent panel is recovered and retained. This selective replacement strategy restores reliability by replacing only the damaged sacrificial component rather than the entire assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively absorbs impact energy from bird strikes, enabling thinner, lighter transparent walls that can withstand more significant impacts and reduce maintenance costs.

Implementation Method 1

at least one sacrificial energy-absorbing pad configured to deform according to an irreversible plastic deformation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4671118A1Aircraft provided with a transparent wall attached to a structure by a shock-absorbing system

Publication Date: 2025.12.31 EUROCOPTER FRANCE SA

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AI summary

The present invention relates to an aircraft (1) equipped with a transparent wall (10) interposed between an internal environment (INT) located in the aircraft (1) and an external environment (EXT), the transparent wall (10) being fixed to a supporting structure (5) of the aircraft (1) by a fastening system (20), the transparent wall (10) having an inner face (11) facing the internal environment (INT) and an outer face (12) facing the external environment (EXT). The fastening system (20) comprises at least one sacrificial energy-absorbing pad (30), said energy-absorbing pad (30) comprising at least one energy absorber connected to the transparent wall (10) and to the supporting structure (5), said at least one energy absorber comprising an internal absorber (40) attached to the inner face (11).