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HEAVY MILITARY TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT UNPAVED RUNWAY TESTS: DYNAMIC LOADS & RUNWAY CHARACTERIZATION METHODOLOGY

Publicated to:Proceedings Of The International Forum Of Aeroelasticity And Structural Dynamics 2022, Ifasd 2022. - 2022-01-01 (), DOI:

Authors: Pastor G; Galán P; Alonso D; Martínez G; Parra S; Gómez E; Claverías S; Arévalo F; Climent H; Chorro JM

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Abstract

Among the huge variety of military transport aircraft tactical capabilities, one of the most noteworthy is the possibility to operate on unpaved runways. Large amounts of much required supplies can be delivered straight to the point of need, while landing, taxiing and taking-off from remote and austere airfields. Developing and certifying this capability is a formidable challenge due to the wide variety of factors that need to be considered: dynamic loads, performance requirements, handling qualities, safety, quick deployment to remote airfields, runway refurbishments needs, de-bogging equipment, etc. This paper will focus, from the dynamic loads standpoint, on the A400M Flight Test Campaigns on Unpaved Runways, which have been performed during more than a decade and have meant a key milestone to facilitate the achievement of the current A400M outstanding capability to operate on Unpaved Runways. The dynamic taxi operation is dimensioning for the A400M landing gear and aircraft structure. A Flight Test validated finite element loads model has been used to show compliance to the certification and contractual requirements and to extend the unpaved runways capability far beyond them. This model, together with the Flight Tests results analysis on a day-by-day basis, has also been used to provide the loads clearances needed to perform the Flight Test Campaigns. Both the runway roughness and the runway bearing capability are key parameters that need to be taken into account in the dynamic taxi loads analysis. This paper explains in depth the development of an exhaustive runway characterization methodology, which has arisen as a fundamental need in order to ensure the aircraft safe operation on unpaved runways. Moreover, this methodology has been evolving during the Flight Test Campaigns with the aim to satisfy the customer needs with respect to cost (number of people) and time needed to perform the characterization. The main outcomes of this continuous methodology development are new semi-automatic tools developed by Airbus Defence and Space in order to fulfil the specific requirements of the Armed Forces. © Proceedings of the International Forum of Aeroelasticity and Structural Dynamics 2022, IFASD 2022.

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