Certification by Analysis

"Certification tests for aircraft structures are necessary to ensure the load carrying capability and performance of each component. However, hardware testing is costly and delays the design cycle. In current certification procedures, a limited number oftests are performed, especially at full-scale, and the stochastic nature of structural failures is not captured. The solution is to augment experimental testing with analysis with the goal of increasing structural reliability. This process is called"certification-by-analysis." In the proposed research, Collier Research will work with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics to develop a certification by analysis process through several efforts. First, LM will apply the commercial structural sizing software,HyperSizerr, to several programs including STRICT unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) development and sustainment programs for the C-130J, C-140 and C-5 transports. Second, data will be collected from recent structural test programs and correlated to analysispredictions. Probabilistic methods using this data will be incorporated into the certification by analysis process. Finally, a "design-by-analysis" process will be implemented for providing certified robust designs. The developed process will beapplicable to UAVs, Space Access and Future Strike Vehicles, and sustainment of existing military aircraft."