First Milestone For Typhoon Full Scale Fatigue Testing
13 Jun 2005
The full-scale fatigue test for Eurofighter Typhoon, known as P-MAFT (Production - Major Airframe Fatigue Test) has achieved the first 500 test hours of its 18000 hour, five year test programme.
The P-MAFT Typhoon comprises all six major units (front, centre and rear fuselages, left and right hand wings and fin), flying surfaces, canopy and windscreen as well as the undercarriage. On the test, aerodynamic loads are applied to the structure along with internal pressures to the cockpit and fuel tanks and those inertia loads generated by the major masses, for example the engines, pylons and avionic components.
In addition to these traditional loading actions, dynamic buffet loads will also be represented on the PMAFT. These loads will be introduced on the rear empennage via an electromagnetic exciter.
The system is currently running 12 hours per day as all unique load distributions are applied. After this time the system’s running period will be extended; one of the design criteria is for the test to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week unmanned.
The team in the Structural and Dynamic Test Facility at BAE Systems site in Brough, UK is conducting the test on behalf of the four-nation Eurofighter consortium in order to provide evidence for the qualification of the airframe. The test is the equivalent of the aircraft being in service for 25 years.
The Brough team has worked closely with partner companies FCS Control Systems and HBM, to develop an integrated control and data acquisition system, capable of meeting the demands of qualifying the world’s most advanced swing-role combat aircraft.
Recent developments in technology have provided an integrated force control and safety system to ensure maximum integrity of all the loads applied to the airframe through 116 hydraulic actuators and eight pneumatic pressure control systems. The health and integrity of the structure is continually monitored by 2,300 instrumentation channels recording strains generated by applied loads.
About BAE SYSTEMS
BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea and in space. The company designs, manufactures and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, fighting vehicles, radar, avionics, communications, electronics and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years. It is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defence systems.
BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company has more than 90,000 people and generates annual sales of over 13 billion through its wholly-owned and joint venture operations.
For further information, please contact:
Debbie Stott BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1772-852995 Fax: +44 (0) 1772 856524
deborah.stott@baesystems.com
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