Compliant broach fixture design to support more representative fan blade bird impact design

A method to form a static impact test fixture, the method comprising:

• providing a load plate configured to support weight of a fan blade when a blade root of the fan blade is placed onto the load plate;
• providing a broach that includes
• a notch configured to fit over the load plate and to allow the broach to slide along a first axis relative to the load plate,
• a flange portion that extends in a first direction over the notch and that is configured to overlap the load plate, and
• a throat opening configured for a blade neck to pass through,
• wherein a wall of the flange portion has a shape corresponding to a shape of the blade root;
• and
• providing an under-root padding disposed between the load plate and the broach in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and composed of a compliant material having a specified thickness and compliance that enable the under-root padding to deform to an initial deformation caused by a clamping load between the load plate and the broach.