Scientific Analysis of TU-154M Crash in Smolensk Russia, Presented by Dr. Wieslaw Binienda at Technical University of Poznan, Poland.
Published: November 17, 2015
Dr. Wieslaw Binienda, Ph.D.
On October 28, 2015, Dr. Wieslaw K. Binienda, Chairman and Professor of Civil Engineering at The University of Akron, Ohio, USA, and expert in the area of strength of materials and high-energy impact, presented in Poznan his seminar prepared for the Polish scientific community at the IV Smolensk Conference in Warsaw.
The expert summarized findings of his research group as well as other researchers, such as Dr. Gregory Szuladzinski, structural engineering expert from Australia, and Glenn Jorgensen, aerodynamics expert from Denmark.
Binienda corroborated on Jorgensen’s findings, noting that a 6 meter-long part of the wing has been separated in Smolensk from the rest of the left wing, along the line inclined at 20 degree from the direction of the natural air flow. He further noted that the line starts from the area of the brake, between the second and third slat, and cutting straight to the small area between the aerolon and the flap. The scientist concluded that these were the only areas without moving parts, which are the most difficult to inspect.
He also pointed out the upside-down position of the wreckage of the fuselage segment, noting that both walls were open in the outward orientation before the crash landing of the plane. Such configuration can be produced by explosion in the fuselage in the air, the scientist noted.
During the second part of his seminar, Dr. Binienda presented results of his most recent wind tunnel experiments.
The researcher showed two models of the airplane fabricated using 3D printing technology at 1:100 scale, that cost over $2,000 to produce. The first model was in a cruise configuration and the second in a landing configuration. Both models were tested in a wind tunnel and simulated using Computational Fluid Dynamics codes, such as CFD++ and Fluent. The Tu154M Airplane models used in the experiment, contain slats, flaps and wheels. The jet engines were not included in the test, as it is normally practiced during an aerodynamic research. The wind tunnel can produce wind velocities of up to 55m/s.
While in the wind tunnel, the airplane model behaves similarly to the real airplane. The results were used to validate the CFD results and to verify Jorgensen’s results for a real-size airplane.
The scientist also described the direction of his future research and his intent to conduct tests using an airplane model without 1/3 and 2/3 left wing. He also plans to investigate a free flow of the 1/3 airplane wing after separation from the rest of the airplane.
Binienda pointed out that aerodynamic problems are very interesting and that the issue of the birch tree, alleged to have caused the crash, has been conclussively debunked, is closed, and not need any further investigation.
After the presentation there was time for questions and discussion. Professor Piotr Witakowski, Ph.D., who organized this seminar, explained:
“Aviation regulations require that a large airplane must be stable even if the difference in lift force reaches 20%. It is worth noting that elimination of a 6m wing area reduces the lift force by 8%. Hence, the loss of 1/3 of the wing is not sufficient to cause uncontrollable rotation of the airplane. If such uncontrollable rotation was possible by the loss of 8% of the lift force, such airplane would not receive safety certification to fly to foreign airports”.
Prepared by: Margotte a Bernard
Professor Binienda's entire presentation can be viewed below:
Other Stories :
Conclusive evidence of explosives detection emerges! Antoni Macierewicz Press Conference, July 19, 2013. Examples of Spectrometer readouts released to the public.
Explosives found on as many as 30 seats from the Polish government Tupolev Tu-154M that crashed on April 10, 2010 - reported Poland's largest daily "Rzeczpospolita" on October 30, 2012. Cezary Gmyz, its investigative journalist confirmed that the information came from four highly credible sources involved in the investigation. "Rzeczpospolita's" findings were also corroborated by the Polish Parliamentary Group's Chairman, Mr. Antoni Macierewicz, as well as Dr. Kazimierz Nowaczyk, who published (see below) preliminary analysis of samples performed by an independent laboratory in the United States.
Smolensk Crash Explosives:
C-4 is a common variety of the plastic explosive known as Composition C. Plastic explosive is a soft and hand moldable solid form of explosive material. Within the field of explosives engineering, plastic explosives are also known as putty explosives.
Warsaw Press Conference 10.30.12 PHOTO by Reuters
TNT (TriNitroToluene) is a chemical compound with the formula CH3C6H2(NO2)3. This yellow-colored solid is sometimes used as a reagent in chemical synthesis, but it is best known as a useful explosive material with convenient handling properties. The explosive yield of TNT is considered to be the standard measure of strength of bombs and other explosives.
TNT is one of the most commonly used explosives for military and industrial applications. It is valued partly because of its insensitivity to shock and friction, which reduces the risk of accidental detonation, compared to other more sensitive high explosives such as nitroglycerin.
RDX (abbr.. Research Department Explosive) is an explosive nitroamine widely used in military and industrial applications. In its pure, synthesized state RDX is a white, crystalline solid. It is often used in mixtures with other explosives and plasticizers, phlegmatizers or desensitizers. RDX is stable in storage and is considered one of the most powerful and brisant of the military high explosives.
HMX, also called octogen, is a powerful and relatively insensitive nitroamine high explosive, chemically related to RDX. Like RDX, the compound's name is the subject of much speculation, having been variously listed as High Melting eXplosive, Her Majesty's eXplosive, High-velocity Military eXplosive, or High-Molecular-weight rdX.
Click on the thumbnails below to view screen dumps from the detectors used to examine the wreckage and seats from the Polish president's plane crash in Smolensk. An "X" denotes the presence of the detected explosive substance and its type. The underlined Polish word "Probka" or "probka" in the screen dump 1 and 2, means "Sample"
Why did they all fly on the same plane?
Synopsis: January 12, 2013, Toronto, Canada. The wife of the late Deputy-Minister of Culture Tomasz Merta: "What I am about to tell you now, are suspicions - and not even my own - but, rather the [suspicions of the] individuals in the inner-circles of the [Polish] military... I heard a statement that was made - but, I am not taking any responsibility for how credible, or not credible it is. [I heard that] had the generals and journalists' not been re-assigned to different aircraft, it wouldn't have been the Tupolev [Tu-154M], but rather the Casa [transport aircraft] that would have been taken out.
Because the Generals were no longer onboard the Casa, there was no reason for it to get airborne. And for this reason it was the Yak[-40] that flew off to Smolensk. This Casa [transport aircraft] was never examined in any way. It was not subject to any examination. Aside from a single note in the deposition given to the military, no one was interested why this aircraft didn't fly [to Smolensk]. Perhaps, this is someones crazy phantasy, but perhaps it isn't.
Some [Polish] military personnel had suggested, that it [the Casa] had to stay behind at the Okecie military [tarmack], so that the explosives could be removed from it - because they were no longer needed [...] I am only repeating what I was told."
"Disarming" Explosives ...
It is worth for us to retrace the entire process of "disarming" the case of explosive substances at the crash site. It all started with the publication of Cezary Gmyz in "Rzeczpospolita" on October 30, 2012, and information that the detectors, which were used by experts in Smolensk (in late September and October) showed traces of TNT and nitroglycerine.
As it turned out, the journalist was also reporting about the indication of Hexogen. The storm broke. The prosecution denied the publication, and ultimately, the editor-in-chief of "Rzeczpospolita," Cezary Gmyz and two other journalists lost their jobs. The entire editorial staff of one of Poland’s most popular weeklies, "Uważam Rze", was also silenced.
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