Concept of the new A320 fatigue test

Abstract

Within the scope of the Extended Service Goal (ESG) for the A320 family fleet fatigue tests (NEF) have been decided by Airbus in order to support analysis/justification for an extension of the limit of validity (LoV) of the maintenance program to ensure continuation of safe aircraft operation. Up to 180,000 SF have to be performed to simulate the fatigue and damage tolerance behaviour of the airframe. The concepts of the new fatigue tests have been developed based on the experience and cognitions of all former aircraft tests for Airbus and in particular the A320 EF tests about 20 years ago, when EF2 was accomplished by IABG. Since the new tests have been taken into Airbus̀ program at very short notice, the realisation of the test set-up required unique and very time efficient solutions in all needs. The paper presents the test concept for the A320 NEF2 & NEF3 and highlights some improvements. The paper thus gives an overview of efficient and state-of-the-art full-scale fatigue testing currently being practised by IABG. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009.