U.S. Army/Sikorsky ACAP Airframe Test Techniques/Methodology

Special considerations and test techniques used during static testing of the U.S. Army/Sikorsky Advanced Composite Airframe Program (ACAP) airframe are discussed. Included are considerations for account­ability for effects of prolonged environ­mental exposure on composite material strength, and establishment of limit and ultimate load criteria. Techniques used for damage detection and inspection, and the problems and solutions.associated with repairing bonded composite structures damaged during test conduct are described.