HALO flight test with instrumented wingstores for aeroelastic and loads analysis within DLR project iLOADS
Each aircraft modification needs to be analyzed numerically and experimentally to guarantee the structural integrity of the aircraft in each flight condition. Maximum loads for gust encounters and the aeroelastic stability are determined from numerical models which are validated by following flight tests.For flight tests the aircraft and its external stores are instrumented with acceleration and strain sensors to monitor vibration and load levels for different flight conditions. To reduce cost and time for flight testing, fast decisions from engineers inside the aircraft during a test flight are needed when going from one flight condition to the next.
DLR's PMS wing stores on HALO
The DLR Institute of Aeroelasticity in Göttingen, Germany, has developed a real-time procedure to analyze aircraft vibrations from atmospheric turbulence and impulsive pilot controls directly in flight. These methods allow the simultaneous identification of various aircraft parameters which are necessary to evaluate the aeroelastic stability, and, at the same time, are dependent on the flight condition, like eigenfrequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios. The fast interaction between analysis software and the measurement system also allows for an instantaneous maneuver loads analysis.
The departments of Loads Analysis and Aeroelastic Design and of Structural Dynamics and Aeroelastic System Identification will test the new methodologies in 13 flight hours with HALO equipped with the DLR PMS carriers. The campaign is performed within the DLR project iLOADS. Focus is on the support of the DLR processes for loads analysis and aeroelastic stability analysis, as well as on certification aspects of the HALO aircraft with external stores.
HALO mode shape
Principal investigators
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolf-Reiner Krüger (Projektleiter iLOADS, Abteilungsleiter AE-LAE)
DLR, Institut für Aeroelastik, Bunsenstr. 10, 37073 Göttingen
M.Eng. Julian Sinske (Teilprojektleiter für Flugversuch iLOADS)
DLR, Institut für Aeroelastik, Bunsenstr. 10, 37073 Göttingen
Dr.-Ing. Yves Govers (Gruppenleiter Modal Testing and Model Validation)
DLR, Institut für Aeroelastik, Bunsenstr. 10, 37073 Göttingen
