Adv Structures Rsch
Abstract
This Project funds basic research for improved tools and methods to advance structural health monitoring capabilities and enable condition-based maintenance for sustainment of rotorcraft and ground vehicles. This research also enables the design and use of composite structures that can better address the cost, weight, performance, and dynamic interaction requirements of future platforms identified by the Army Modernization Strategy. Ultimately, these technologies result in safer, more affordable vehicles with a greatly reduced logistics footprint. This Project is a collaborative Army and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) effort that includes structures technology research into: structural integrity analyses; failure criteria; inspection methods which address fundamental technology deficiencies in both metallic and composite Army rotorcraft structures; use of composite materials in the design and control of structures through structural tailoring techniques; rotorcraft aeroelastic modeling and simulation; helicopter vibration (rotating and fixed systems); and the design and analyses of composite structures with crashworthiness as a goal. The problems in structural modeling are inaccurate structural analysis and validation methods to predict durability and damage tolerance of composite and metallic rotorcraft structures and inadequate structural dynamics modeling methods for both the rotating and fixed system components to address reliability issues for future aircraft. The technical barriers include a lack of understanding of failure mechanisms, damage progression, residual strength, high-cycle fatigue, the transfer of aerodynamic loads on the rotor to the fixed system, and impact of these unknown loads on aircraft components. Technical solutions are focused on: advanced fatigue methodologies for metallic structures, improved composites technology throughout the vehicle, long-term investigation of integrated stress-strength-inspection, advanced methods for rotor system vehicle vibratory loads prediction, improved methods to predict vehicle stability, and improved analyses to address Army Aviation requirements. These advancements will extend service life, reduce maintenance costs, enhance durability, and reduce the logistics footprint of existing and future Army vehicles. This is the only basic research Project supporting investigations for rotorcraft and ground vehicle structures within the Department of Defense. Work in this Project supports key Army needs and provides the technical underpinnings to Program Element (PE) 0602211A (Aviation Technology). The cited work is consistent with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Science and Technology priority focus areas. Work in this Project is performed by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD and NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2018
- Source ID
- H66_0601102A_1_2040_PB_2018
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