Brazilian Air Force aircraft structural integrity program: An overview

Mello Junior, Alberto W. S.; Garcia, Abílio Neves; Ribeiro, Fabrício N.; Mattos, Daniel Ferreira V.

doi:10.5028/jatm.2009.0101107111

Abstract:

This paper presents an overview of the activities developed by the Structural Integrity Group at the Institute of Aeronautics and Space - IAE, Brazil, as well as the status of ongoing work related to the life extension program for aircraft operated by the Brazilian Air Force BAF. The first BAF-operated airplane to undergo a DTA-based life extension was the F-5 fighter, in the mid 1990s. From 1998 to 2001, BAFworked on a life extension project for the BAFAT-26 Xavante trainer. All analysis and tests were performed at IAE. The fatigue critical locations (FCLs) were presumed based upon structural design and maintenance data and also from exchange of technical information with other users of the airplane around the world. Following that work, BAF started in 2002 the extension of the operational life of the BAF T-25 "Universal". The T-25 is the basic training airplane used by AFA - The Brazilian Air Force Academy. This airplane was also designed under the "safe-life" concept. As the T-25 fleet approached its Service life limit, the Brazilian Air Force was questioning whether it could be kept inflight safely. The answer came through an extensive Damage Tolerance Analysis (DTA) program, briefly described in this paper. The current work on aircraft structural integrity is being performed for the BAF F-5 E/F that underwent an avionics and weapons system upgrade. Along with the increase in weight, new configurations and mission profiles were established. Again, a DTA program was proposed to be carried out in order to establish the reliability of the upgraded F5 fleet. As a result of all the work described, the BAF has not reported any accident due to structural failure on aircraft submitted to Damage Tolerance Analysis.

Key words:
Fatigue; Damage tolerance; Structure; Service life

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REFERENCES

Garcia, A. N. et al., 2001, "Resultados Finais da Análise de Tolerância ao Dano das Aeronaves AT-26 Xavante da FAB", IAE, (ASA-G 02/01).
Hoffman, P., 2003, "Wings of Madness: Alberto Santos-Dumont and the Invention of Flight", New York, NY. Theia, pp.259.
Mello Jr., A. W. S., 1998, "Crack 2000 Program: Software for Practical Fracture Mechanics and Damage Tolerance Analysis", User's Manual. CTA, São José dos Campos.
Mello Jr., A. W. S., 1999, "Definição dos Pontos Críticos em Fadiga da Aeronave AT-26 Xavante da FAB, e Seus Parâmetros de Inspeção", IAE, São José dos Campos (ASA-G 01/99)
Mello Jr., A. W. S. etal., 2004, "Determinação das Funções de Transferência para os Pontos Críticos das Aeronave T-25", São José dos Campos (ASA-G 13/04).
Mello Jr., A. W. S. et al., 2005, "Análise de Tolerância ao Dano das Aeronaves T-25", São José dos Campos (ASA-G 08/05)
Wieland, D. H. et al., 1996, "F-5 FMS Durability and Damage Tolerance Update Revised Final Report F-5E Brazilian Air Force", SwRI Project number 06-4222. (SwRI 5020B-E, CDRL5020B-E), San Antonio.
Winter, N., 1998, "Man Flies: The Story of Alberto Santos-Dumont, Master of the Balloon, Conqueror of the Air", Hopewell, NJ, Ecco Press, pp. 121.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
Jan-Jun 2009

History

Received
05 May 2009
Accepted
20 May 2009

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

[1] Garcia, A. N. et al., 2001, "Resultados Finais da Análise de Tolerância ao Dano das Aeronaves AT-26 Xavante da FAB", IAE, (ASA-G 02/01).

[2] Hoffman, P., 2003, "Wings of Madness: Alberto Santos-Dumont and the Invention of Flight", New York, NY. Theia, pp.259.

[3] Mello Jr., A. W. S., 1998, "Crack 2000 Program: Software for Practical Fracture Mechanics and Damage Tolerance Analysis", User's Manual. CTA, São José dos Campos.

[4] Mello Jr., A. W. S., 1999, "Definição dos Pontos Críticos em Fadiga da Aeronave AT-26 Xavante da FAB, e Seus Parâmetros de Inspeção", IAE, São José dos Campos (ASA-G 01/99)

[5] Mello Jr., A. W. S. etal., 2004, "Determinação das Funções de Transferência para os Pontos Críticos das Aeronave T-25", São José dos Campos (ASA-G 13/04).

[6] Mello Jr., A. W. S. et al., 2005, "Análise de Tolerância ao Dano das Aeronaves T-25", São José dos Campos (ASA-G 08/05)

[7] Wieland, D. H. et al., 1996, "F-5 FMS Durability and Damage Tolerance Update Revised Final Report F-5E Brazilian Air Force", SwRI Project number 06-4222. (SwRI 5020B-E, CDRL5020B-E), San Antonio.

[8] Winter, N., 1998, "Man Flies: The Story of Alberto Santos-Dumont, Master of the Balloon, Conqueror of the Air", Hopewell, NJ, Ecco Press, pp. 121.

Brasil