In-Flight Strain Monitoring of Aircraft Tail Boom Structure Using a Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor Based Health and Usage Monitoring System

With the increased use of composite materials in aircraft structures, continuous and thorough monitoring of structural conditions is highly required for the assurance of safety and reliability. In this study, as part of the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor-based aircraft health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) development research, in-flight strain monitoring of an aircraft tail boom structure using the FBG sensor-based aircraft HUMS was investigated. The FBG sensor-based aircraft HUMS was implemented to the tail boom structure of an ultralight propeller composite aircraft. Flight tests of the testbed aircraft were performed, and in-flight strain variations of the tail boom structure were measured using the implemented system. For in-flight strain variation data-based verification through comparative analysis with flight parameters, the in-flight strain variations of the tail boom structure were analyzed with the flight parameters for various flight conditions. As a result, the HUMS operated as expected during the actual flights, and the acquired in-flight strain variations corresponded adequately in relation to the loading conditions during flight, such as bending loads due to the use of control surfaces and ground impacts during landing procedures.

Automated summary

This study focused on in-flight strain monitoring of an aircraft tail boom structure using the FBG sensor-based aircraft HUMS, and verified the system's performance during actual flights by analyzing in-flight strain variations in comparison with flight parameters.