Development of Test Facility for Structural Evaluation of Composite Rotor Hubs

The rotorcraft industry is constantly evaluating new types of lightweight composite materials that not only enhance the safety and reliability of rotor components, but also improve performance and extend operating life as well. The tests required for these evaluations are typically quite complex requiring massive test fixtures, in many cases, along with multiple actuators for loading test articles at various points simultaneously. This paper discusses the background for development of the facility, as well as hardware and overall system design and implementation. Additional topics that are covered include data acquisition, implementation of nondestructive inspection techniques during the test process, and some results from the initial test series performed in the facility.