Predictive Model Based Control System for High-Speed Dynamic Airframe Testing

TDA plans to develop a complete digital framework as necessary to include the model predictive control (MPC) system and digital twin (DT) ideas suitable for a virtual fatigue test of the full airframe of the H-60 rotorcraft. This digital engineering framework will virtually include all elements of a physical test including the test fixture, test article, loading system, control system, and sensor system for feedback.Ā TDA will demonstrate virtual fatigue test at the end of the Phase II effort incorporating MPC and DT, and show how high and low cycle fatigue loading cycles can be imparted to the test article at an accelerated rate while still retaining the overall structural behavior and response. TDA plans to demonstrate virtual testing for a full H-60 airframe in the Option period of the proposed Phase II effort. The long-term objective is to take this predictive control system and DT developed in the Phase II effort and extend it via later efforts for application to physical fatigue testing, starting with an H-60 tail cone test article, up to a full H-60 airframe.