Fleet Aircraft Strain Sensor Calibration System Navy SBIR FY2008.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2008.1 Topic No.: N08-025 Topic Title: Fleet Aircraft Strain Sensor Calibration System Proposal No.: N081-025-0071 Firm: Physical Optics Corporation Applied Technologies Division 20600 Gramercy Place, Bldg.100 Torrance, California 90501-1821 Contact: Edward Patton Phone: (310) 320-3088 Web Site: www.poc.com Abstract: To address the Navy need for a simple method to calibrate strain sensors on in-service aircraft with the accuracy of a full-scale test rig, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Fleet Aircraft Strain Sensor Calibration system (FASCAL), based on the simultaneous measurement of aircraft frame deflections at several locations under a static loading condition. True strain/load on the aircraft��s body frame is estimated from the measured deflection and a high-fidelity structural model, and it is compared with the strain sensor readings for accurate sensor calibration. Optical deflection sensors measure linear and angular deflections of the wings, vertical tail, horizontal stabilizer, and nose of the aircraft with +/-100 microns and +/-0.1 degree resolutions. The proposed strain sensor calibration system is configurable to any type of fleet aircraft and will require no time-intensive preparation steps or data acquisition. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of FASCAL by measuring structural deflections of a model of an aircraft when subjected to static loading and estimating the strain on the frames. In Phase II, POC plans to develop a full-scale FASCAL system, including signal processing and control electronics, which can be readily integrated into the Navy��s aircraft maintenance facilities. Benefits: The development of FASCAL system will be beneficial to Navy to efficiently calibrate strain sensors on in-service fleet aircrafts with accuracy of a full scale test rig allowing for low cost fatigue life prediction. Other applications of FASCAL include the use by the commercial and private aircraft maintenance facilities to perform ground-based calibration measurements. FASCAL can also be used by other industries such as the sea vehicle maintenance facilities where lightweight commercial and private sea vehicle structures can be monitored for their fatigue life. The proposed FASCAL, with minor modifications, will have other applications that include the use of monitoring long or tall structures like bridges and buildings that are subject to seismic movement, weight, and wind gusts, potentially compromising their structural integrity and performing calibration of strain sensors installed in these structures. Return