Approach to the CFD analysis applied to HMDs during high-speed wind blast

Helmet Mounted Displays (HMD) are now an essential element in fast jet aircraft cockpits and the demanding safety requirements must be maintained. Exposure to high-speed air- blast was a fundamental requirement of a developmental HMD produced by BAE SYSTEMS. Safety criteria based on stability, strength and aerodynamic loads meant that reliance on an empirical development was no longer appropriate. Success was achieved from a combination of experience, analysis, design and testing. Computational Fluid Dynamics modeling combined with validation testing in a wind tunnel provided a vital understanding of the aerodynamic loads developed during the windblast event and significantly reduced developmental risk.