Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T09:07:25.975Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

In-flight wing deformation measurements on a glider

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2016

J. Bakunowicz*
Affiliation:
Aviation Training Centre, Rzeszow University of Technology, Rzeszow, Poland
R. Meyer
Affiliation:
German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology, Dept. Experimental Methods, Goettingen, Germany

Abstract

Flight testing is both vital for collecting data for aeronautic research and at the same time fascinating for its contributors. Taking a glider as a versatile test bed example, this paper presents a transnational measurement campaign within the framework of a collaborative project funded by the European Commission. This project Advanced In-Flight Measurement Techniques 2 (AIM²) is a follow-up of Advanced In-Flight Measurement Techniques (AIM) and dedicated to developing and enhancing promising optical metrology for various flight test applications up to an industrial level.

The Image Pattern Correlation Technique (IPCT) and infrared thermography (IRT) are two of these modern non-intrusive measurement methods that were further developed and applied to the glider test bed within the scope of AIM². Focusing on optical deformation measurements with IPCT the experimental setup, the flight testing and results are summarily discussed. Gliders are not commonly used flight test platforms, which is why this contribution concludes with some lessons learned in general and especially related to the presented application. The experience to be shared with the flight testing community addresses equipment preparation, data collection and processing as well as how to meet official requirements and perform test flight operations in a dense controlled airspace.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Stinton, D. Flying Qualities and Flight Testing of the Aeroplane, 1996, Blackwell Science, Oxford, UK.Google Scholar
2. Niu, M.C.-Y. Airframe Structural Design, 1988, Conmilit Press Ltd., Hong Kong.Google Scholar
3. Norton, W.J. Structures Flight Test Handbook, 1990, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards, California, US.Google Scholar
4. Hoffman, K. Eine Einführung in die Technik des Messens mit Dehnungsmessstreifen, 1987, Hottinger Baldwin Messtechnik GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany.Google Scholar
5. Chehura, E., James, S.W., Tatam, R.P., Lawson, N. and Garry, K.P. Pressure measurements on aircraft wing using phase-shifted fibre Bragg grating sensors, 20th International Conference on Optical Fibre Sensors, 5-9 October 2009, Edinburgh, Scotland.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Klinge, F. Cross correlation based optical measurement techniques for fluid dynamics and structure analysis BOS, IPCT. Lecture in Tampere University of Technology, 2004, Finland.Google Scholar
7. Kompenhans, J., Schroder, A., Engler, R., Klinge, F. and Stasicki, B. Development and application of image based measurements techniques for aerodynamic investigation in wind tunnels, International Conference High Speed Flow: Fundamental Problems, 2-24 September 2004, Zhukovsky, Russia.Google Scholar
8. Boden, F., Kirmse, T., Weikert, T., Wolf, T., Petit, C. and Jentink, H. Application of a New Optical Measurement Technique for Non-Intrusive Wing Deformation Measurement on a Large Transport Aircraft, 21st SFTE (EC) Symposium, 3-6 October 2010, Vergiate (VA), Italy.Google Scholar
9. Boden, F., Lawson, N., Jentink, H.W. and Kompenhans, J. (Eds.) Advanced In-Flight Measurement Techniques. 2013, Springer Verlag, Berlin and Heidelberg, Germany, 2013.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10. Kraus, K. Photogrammetry—Geometry from Images and Laser Scans, 2nd ed., 2007, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, Germany.Google Scholar
11. Szczerba, P., Szumski, M. and Kucaba-Piętal, A. Virtual reality in planning IPCT experiment, Proceedings of the ITI 35th International Conference on Information Technology Interfaces, 2013, Cavtat, Croatia.Google Scholar
12. Kopecki, G. and Rzucidło, P. Integrated modular measurement system for in-flight tests, Polskie Towarzystwo Diagnostyki Technicznej, Diagnostyka, Vol. 15, No. 1, 2014, Warszawa, Poland, pp 5360.Google Scholar
13. CS-22 Certification Specifications for Sailplanes and Powered Sailplanes , Amendment 2, 2009.Google Scholar