Course detail
Testing of Aircraft
FSI-9ZLL Acad. year: 2027/2028 Both semester
The course focuses on advanced experimental methods used in ground and flight testing of aircraft. Emphasis is placed on the complete experimental chain, from formulation of test objectives, experimental design and selection of the measurement system through calibration and data acquisition to advanced data processing, uncertainty assessment and interpretation of results.
A significant part of the course deals with flight-test metrology, calibration of measurement chains and custom-built sensors, application of strain gauges, determination of transfer characteristics, data correction and synchronization, and propagation of uncertainties into derived quantities.
In flight testing, attention is paid to air-data system calibration, determination of aerodynamic corrections, aircraft performance evaluation and reduction of measured data to standard atmospheric and reference conditions. Experimental assessment of selected flying qualities and aircraft loads is also included.
The course further covers test planning, correlation of experimental results with analytical and numerical models, validation of results and preparation of technical test documentation.
Language of instruction
Czech
Supervisor
Department
Entry knowledge
Fundamentals of mechanics, flight mechanics and aerodynamics. Basic knowledge of measurement of mechanical quantities, particularly force, strain, pressure, temperature, displacement and time. Fundamentals of statistical processing of experimental data. Basic knowledge of aircraft performance, stability and controllability.
Rules for evaluation and completion of the course
The course is completed by an oral examination.
Admission to the examination is conditional upon completion and presentation of an individual assignment focused on the design or evaluation of an experimental measurement. The assignment is selected with respect to the student's field of research and, where appropriate, is related to the topic of the doctoral thesis.
The assignment may include, in particular:
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design of an experimental methodology,
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calibration of a measurement system or custom-built sensor,
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determination of a transfer characteristic,
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measurement uncertainty assessment,
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propagation of uncertainty into derived quantities,
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processing and analysis of real experimental data,
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reduction of flight-test results to standard conditions,
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comparison of experimental results with analytical or numerical predictions.
During the oral examination, the student demonstrates the ability to explain the principles of the selected method, identify the dominant sources of uncertainty, critically assess the quality of experimental data and justify the interpretation of the results.
The final grade is based on the quality of the individual assignment, its presentation and the oral examination and follows the VUT grading scale.
Aims
The aim of the course is to provide advanced knowledge of experimental aircraft testing with emphasis on test design, calibration of measurement systems, advanced processing of experimental data, measurement uncertainty and critical interpretation of test results.
After completing the course, the student will be able to:
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design an appropriate experimental methodology for ground or flight testing,
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select suitable measurands, sensors, measurement chains and data-acquisition parameters,
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design and perform calibration of a measurement system or a custom-built sensor,
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evaluate systematic and random error sources and determine the uncertainty of measured and derived quantities,
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propagate measurement uncertainty through subsequent data reduction and calculation,
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process and critically assess experimental data, including filtering, synchronization, corrections and identification of erroneous or non-representative data,
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reduce flight-test results to standard atmospheric and reference conditions,
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determine aircraft performance and selected flying qualities from experimental data,
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design and calibrate a simple experimental sensor, for example based on strain gauges, and determine its transfer characteristic,
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compare experimental results with analytical or numerical predictions and assess their correlation,
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prepare a professional test report and justify both the selected methodology and the interpretation of the results.
The study programmes with the given course
Programme D-KPI-P: Design and Process Engineering, Doctoral, compulsory-optional
Type of course unit
Lecture
20 hours, optionally
Syllabus
Role of experimental testing in aircraft development, verification and certification.
Experimental design and test planning.
Measurement chains and data acquisition.
Calibration of measurement systems.
Strain-gauge-based experimental sensors and their calibration.
Measurement errors and uncertainty analysis.
Advanced processing of experimental data.
Airspeed measurement and Pitot-static system calibration.
Reduction of flight-test data to standard and reference conditions.
Experimental determination of aircraft performance.
Experimental evaluation of flying qualities.
Measurement of loads and strains in ground and flight testing.
Evaluation, correlation, interpretation and reporting of experimental results.