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Techniques to generate and optimize the load spectra for an aircraft

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Abstract

In this article, described the various techniques to generate the load spectra for an aircraft and optimize the generated loading sequence. The generation of loading sequence is carried out from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), which records various parameters in flight. In this article main focus is on ‘g’ accelerations as these are used for load spectra generation. This article describes the techniques viz., (i) Peak-trough counting, (ii) Level cross counting algorithms to count the number of exceedances. After implementing and using these techniques, listed the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques. For a successful usage of generated load sequence for a test/analysis, it is necessary to optimize the generated loading sequence or turning points. The optimization of generated load sequence is carried out by filtering small cycle amplitudes of load/‘g’ ranges. At different range levels the filtering has been carried out, to arrive at an optimum range level of filtering. In order to be certain that the optimized spectra has not lost its severity and shape it has been re-plotted with the original spectra on the same graph. This optimization exercise useful in reducing the testing time.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the 11-BRD for sponsoring the project to National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL). The authors also thank the Director, NAL, Dr. A. R. Upadhya for his valuable support towards this activity.

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Correspondence to Krishna Lok Singh.

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Singh, K.L., Venkatasubramanyam, D.V. Techniques to generate and optimize the load spectra for an aircraft. Int J Mech Mater Des 6, 63–72 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10999-010-9121-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10999-010-9121-7

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