Discussions on some problems of full-scale aircraft fatigue test

Abstract

Full-scale aircraft fatigue test is a large, complex and long-lasting ground verification test required by the specification to sustain aircraft structural integrity program and meet airworthiness requirements. Several important issues of full-scale aircraft fatigue test, such as test objective, load spectrum, duration and scatter factor, are the key concern and widely discussed by aircraft designer/engineer. The scatter factor is also a problem studied by scholars. In recent years, aiming at the full-scale fatigue tests of several aircraft programs, the study and understanding of the above-mentioned issues are introduced in this paper, and the fatigue design and full-scale fatigue tests of five fighter jets in China and abroad are compared. Some practical engineering suggestions for full-scale aircraft fatigue test are put forward. The research in this paper can provide important reference for other aircraft fullscale fatigue tests.

Keywords

• full-scale aircraft fatigue test
• durability
• damage tolerance
• load spectrum
• duration
• scatter factor