Application of a new optical measurement technique for non-intrusive wing deformation measurements on a large transport aircraft

Authors
F. Boden, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
T. Kirmse, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
T. Weikert, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
T. Wolf, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
C. Petit, Airbus Operations
H. W. Jentink, National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR)

Abstract

Abstract: The in-flight deformation of wings has a significant impact on the aerodynamic performance of an aircraft. Thus, it is of interest to be measured. At the moment mainly clas- sical measurement techniques such as strain gauges or accelerometers are applied. These tech- niques give accurate results but have the drawback that they only provide local information. Furthermore, the installation of the sensors and their wiring could cause structural and aero- dynamic interferences. To avoid these effects non-intrusive measurement methods are prefer- able. A photogrammetry method is already applied for these measurements, although the method has some constraints. At the moment only static measurements are provided and accu- racy depends on careful and time-consuming calibrations.

Within the EC funded Specific Targeted Research Project AIM (Advanced In-flight Meas- urement techniques) a novel advanced non-intrusive measurement technique called IPCT (Image Pattern Correlation Technique) was tested for in-flight application to wing deforma- tion measurements. Applying the Image Pattern Correlation Technique (IPCT) can improve the accuracy, reduce installation time, provide local surface deformations and give dynamic results. The IPCT is a special kind of DIC (Digital Image Correlation) and thus an optical, non-intrusive measurement technique. The technique was developed for in-flight applications by DLR and NLR. Within AIM the feasibility to apply this technique to an industrial flight test has been demonstrated on an Airbus A 380. In the presented paper the measurement tech- nique, the installation on the A380 and the test performed in June 2009 are described. At the end some results of the test are presented.