On the Integration of Structural Loads Analysis with Structural Flight Testing for Improved Fatigue Methodologies

This paper presents three strategies of integrating structural loads analysis with structural flight tests with a goal of increasing confidence without increasing flight test costs. The strategies considered in this paper are direct substitution, normalized load spectra, and loads interpolation. Discussion includes impacts on the fatigue methodology and analysis validation associated with each strategy. The paper also explores potential benefits and challenges for each strategy. While the direct substitution strategy requires minimal changes to the fatigue methodology to apply load factors for greater confidence, this strategy also requires an extensive validation effort. Each of the other two strategies reduces the extent of the validation effort, but also requires changes in the fatigue methodology and industry consensus. Finally, for normalized load spectra and loads interpolation strategies, the paper discusses the relationship of each strategy to loads monitoring and estimation.