Supersonic Model Aircraft Vibration & Strain Testing
Project: Supersonic Model Aircraft Vibration & Strain Testing
May 2023 – The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) conducted high-speed structural dynamics testing on a 1:10 scale supersonic model (Mach 1.0) at an electromagnetic propulsion test facility, focusing on vibration and airframe strain during launch and flight.
Test Setup & Challenges
1. Miniaturized Instrumentation
RU-846 Rugged Data Recorder (embedded in fuselage)
Dimensions: 80×60×40mm
Weight: <300g (including shock mount)
Operating G-load: Survived 100g launch acceleration
2. Sensor Configuration
Triaxial MEMS accelerometers (±2000g range, 10kHz bandwidth)
Nose, wing roots, vertical stabilizer
Micro strain gauges (2mm grid, 350Ω)
Critical joints: wing-fuselage, control surface hinges
3. Data Acquisition
Offline recording (no telemetry due to EM interference)
Sample rates:
Acceleration: 50 kSPS (16-bit)
Strain: 10 kSPS (24-bit)
Automatic triggering by launch G-force >5g
Key Test Parameters
Launch Phase (0–0.5s)
Peak acceleration: 82g (validated railgun design)
Structural ringing: 1.2kHz damped oscillation
Transonic Transition (Mach 0.8–1.2)
Detected shockwave-induced vibrations at 350Hz
Measured wing bending-twist coupling (Δε/α = 0.8με/°)
Supersonic Cruise
Aeroelastic stability: Confirmed absence of flutter below Mach 1.4
Technical Breakthroughs
1. Extreme Environment Operation
Withstood:
Instantaneous thermal rise (ΔT > 150°C at leading edges)
Aerodynamic noise >160dB
2. Data Recovery
Crash-proof design: 100% data retrieval after model impact
Time-sync accuracy: ±1μs via embedded atomic clock
3. Post-Processing
Wavelet analysis identified:
Micro-delaminations in composite skins (from strain kurtosis changes)
Control surface buzz at Mach 1.1
Outcomes & Impact
Validated computational models for:
Store separation dynamics (within 5% of CFD predictions)
Sonic boom propagation effects on airframe
Design modifications:
Increased wing spar thickness by 15% at Station 3
Optimized canard vortex generators to reduce buffet
Key Terms:
Store separation: Simulated payload release testing
Aeroelastic stability: Resistance to flutter/divergence
Wavelet analysis: Time-frequency domain signal processing
This test established new protocols for micro-instrumented hypersonics research, with the RU-846 system now adopted as standard equipment for CAS’s Mach 5+ test vehicles.
