Abstract: Some problems of the dynamic response of aircraft windshields to bird-strike are investigated from the view-point of impact dynamics. The experimental results of an aeronautical PMMA tested at the strain-rates of 10-4 s-1 to 103 s-1 and the temperatures of - 60℃ to 100℃ are given, and a nonlinear thermo-viscoelastic constitutive equation for it is suggested. The experimental results of a cast magnesium alloy tested at the strain-rates of 10-4s-1 to 103s-1 are also given, and an apparent nonlinear elasto-plastic constitutive equation is suggested. The character of impact loading is analysed numerically by a characteristics method, and it is shown that the determination of impact loading is coupled with the determination of dynamic response of structure. It is found that the effects of constitutive characters of both bird and windshields on the impact loading, in general, can not be neglected.

Key words: bird impact, aircraft windshield, impact dynamics