FURTHER FATIGUE TESTING OF A GLASS FIBER REINFORCED PLASTIC GLIDER WING

Authors

  • C. A. Patching The Sir Lawrence Wackett Centre for Aerospace Design Technology, Royal Melbourne lnstitute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. Presented to the XXV OSTIV Congress, St Auban, France, July,1997.
  • L. A. Wood The Sir Lawrence Wackett Centre for Aerospace Design Technology, Royal Melbourne lnstitute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. Presented to the XXV OSTIV Congress, St Auban, France, July,1997.

Keywords:

Structures, Materials, Maintenance

Abstract

Fatigue testing of a Janus Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) wing was terminated after a total of 35,482 hours of simulated Australian service conditions. A load spectrum was developed from measurements made using a number of gliders from which a randomized set of load cycles was derived and applied during the test. The test article consisted of a new port wing, and a partly repaired crash damaged starboard wing. Repairs rectifying failures and major structural damage were carried out at various stages of the test. Results have confirmed the efficiency of repairs and indicated no significant change in structural integrity except in areas of concentrated load transfer.

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Issue

Vol. 22 No. 1 (1998)

Section

Articles

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