Helicopter structural integrity program of polish mi-24 hind helicopters

Abstract

In this paper selected problems connected with developing Helicopter Structural Integrity Program (HSIP) of Polish Army Mi-24 Hind Helicopters have been presented. In the paper abilities of IT system, the SAMANTA system used in Polish Armed Forces for collecting and analysing operational and maintenance related information have been discussed. Advantages from application of relational data base technology implemented in the SAMANTA system and based on the Oracle platform have been shown. In order to develop FEM model of Mi-24 structure reverse engineering (RE) methods have been used. The RE methods made possible helicopter structure to be digitally reconstructed and transferred to FEM software. Two of RE methods have been used: - a digital photogrammetry method by means of TRITOP system, - 3D scanning by means of ATOS III system. Service loads spectrum is obtained from operational loads monitoring program. The stresses and loads at selected points where measured during several test flights. Moreover the procedures of helicopter structure fatigue life estimation based on safe S-N curve concept and crack growth concept has been included in the paper. A modified NDE/NDI program is developed in order to support HSIP. Special attention was paid on detection of subsurface defects such as hidden corrosion and cracks by means of DSight Aircraft Inspection System (DAIS II), Magneto-Optic Eddy Current Imager (MOI-308) and MAUS V C-scan system. Above mentioned HSIP was developed by Polish Air Force Institute of Technology under research project founded by Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education and Polish Ministry of National Defence. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009.