23rd Congress of International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, 8-13 September, 2002, Toronto, Canada
Paper ICAS 2002-3.3.4

FATIGUE LIFE EVALUATION OF CRITICAL LOCATIONS IN AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES USING VIRTUAL FATIGUE TEST

J. Tikka
Patria Finavitec Oy, Finland

Keywords: fatigue life, finite element method, operational loads measurement

The fatigue life of critical structural locations in the wing of the Finnish Air Force Hawk jet trainer was estimated. This was done by using calibration coefficients determined by means of a virtual fatigue test. Virtual fatigue test was a detailed reproduction of original one using finite element models and analytical fatigue life analysis. Using calibration coefficients it was possible to correct on operational flight loads measurements based fatigue life calculations.

view full paper