Project Description

Full Scale Fatigue Test

The F/A-18 cell was checked at RUAG Aerospace using a full scale fatigue test. Significant information was obtained concerning the behaviour of the aircraft within the context of the swiss loading spectrum, which fundamentally differs from the US Navy spectrum. This will enable the fighter jet to be deployed over the long-term using technically-sound, cost-effective maintenance.

As engineering consultants, we were commissioned to take part in this major project where our main contribution was calculating loads, which were applied to the test cell using 68 hydraulic cylinders. Detailed calculations of the structures were also performed to verify whether the applied forces, some of which were very local, would lead to excessive stress.