Dynamic Ground Testing: Ground Vibration Tests Through Control Surface Excitation

Abstract

AbstractFlutter flight tests are a crucial step in aircraft certification. The typical approach to flutter flight testing is to excite the aircraft using its control surfaces at several stabilized test points and to measure the corresponding structural response. Before beginning the flight test campaign, however, a preliminary ground vibration test (GVT) performed on the prototype is necessary in order to ensure the reliability of the flutter predictions.These tests are currently costly in terms of preparation time, hardware, resources and time spent in the final assembly line. Due to the high development costs, each day that can be saved in the test program is crucial. As AIRBUS’ current strategy is to develop more derivative aircraft from its flagship projects as opposed to completely new aircraft, a reduction in the number of measurements can be considered. A lighter GVT (or DGT) can therefore be used to save costs.The DGT approach proposed in this paper also relies on the adaptation of in-flight excitation techniques in order to reduce the need for external exciters. These tests would be achieved through sine sweep excitations performed with the control surfaces on ground. However several challenges have to be addressed.KeywordsStructureVibrationDynamicsAircraftCertification