Load Measurements with the Discus-2c - Flight Test Planning and Data Gathering

Kurzfassung

The exact determination of the aerodynamic loads acting on individual aircraft components during flight, in particular the wings and tail unit, plays an important role in the construction and certification of an aircraft. During the construction of new aircraft different load cases are simulated and the occurring forces and moments are determined in order to design the different structural elements. Flight test data is used to verify that the simulation models are of sufficient accuracy and that the measured structural loads do not exceed the design limits during selected flight maneuvers. Traditionally, the occurring structural forces and moments are measured with strain gauges. Micro system sensors (MEMS) are used to measure the local air pressure on a component part. By integrating the surface pressure distribution, the aerodynamic loads acting on the wing can be determined. In contrast to the method using strain gauges, there is no need for complex on ground calibration and no need for installing the sensor inside the structural components, associated with electrical wiring. In order to investigate the benefits of MEMS pressure sensors for the determination of loads, flight tests have been performed with the DLR research soaring plane Discus-2c. This report documents the flight test requirements, the aircraft instrumentation and the recorded flight data