Testing & Qualification

Testing and qualification is where analysis meets reality. For this reason, we plan the tests, design the rigs and prepare the documentation that takes a component to qualification, often starting from the risk of material fatigue.

Testing and qualification starting from the analysis

A test is expensive, and repeating it is more expensive still. Therefore, we start from the FE model: we identify the critical components and areas, choose where to apply loads and where to measure, and estimate the expected deformations in advance. As a result, during the test those values become the reference to see straight away if something is wrong.

De Risk Tests

Before official qualification tests it is often worth running a preliminary test, the De Risk Test, on a sample or a simplified configuration. In fact, it checks design choices and rig behaviour while corrections are still cheap. For example, for the crashworthy helicopter seats we prepared the De Risk Test Plan and De Risk Test Report.

Test rigs

In addition, we design rigs for static and dynamic tests: rig structure, boundary conditions, load introduction and measurement positions. For the AW101 Midlife Update project, for example, we designed the rigs for the static and vibration tests of the new internal liner.

The starting point is always FEM simulation, while the most complete case is the AW101 Midlife Update.

• Static, dynamic and characterisation test plans
• De Risk Test Plan and De Risk Test Report
• Design and structural verification of test rigs
• Test-to-FE model correlation
• Planning and review of qualification tests