Ground vibration testing master class: Modern testing and analysis concepts applied to an F-16 aircraft

Abstract

Ground Vibration Testing (GVT) of aircraft is performed very late in the development process. The main purpose of the test is to obtain experimental vibration data of the whole aircraft structure for validating and improving its structural dynamic models. Among other things, these models are used to predict the flutter behavior and carefully plan the safety-critical in-flight flutter tests. Due to the limited availability of the aircraft for a GVT and the fact that multiple configurations need to be tested, an extreme time pressure exists in getting the test results efficiently. The aim of the paper is to discuss modern testing and analysis concepts for performing a GVT that are able to help realize an important testing and analysis time reduction without compromising the accuracy of the results. For the past several years, LMS has organized so-called Master Classes on the GVT topic. The aim of the class is to introduce an integrated approach to handle the test preparation, modal testing, modal analysis, numerical model correlation, model updating, and model exploitation, to the industry by means of using a full-scale aircraft. This paper illustrates this approach by presenting testing and analysis results of an F-16 aircraft.