Deutsch Aircraft completes a ground vibration test (GVT) on the D328 Uplift flying testbed, D-CUPL, in collaboration with the Institute of Aeroelasticity, a German aerospace centre.
The Ground Vibration Test procedure
Deutsche Aircraft stated that the achievement is a significant step forward in the Uplift programme, which is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. The initiative is to accelerate the maturation of new technologies for sustainable aviation, which will boost the German innovative and economic value.
Ground vibration test is a procedure in aircraft development that determines the aircraft’s modal properties, including its natural frequencies, mode shapes, and damping ratios. According to the German aircraft manufacturer, ground vibration testing is essential information for validating structural dynamics and the refinement of numerical models used in flutter analysis and loads calculation.
During the test, the D328 Uplift was suspended with controlled air springs, and electrodynamic shakers were used on the structure, with 237 acceleration sensors capturing the dynamic response of the aircraft. The test period lasted over two weeks, and excitation occurred at more than 20 locations. The test outcome included three aircraft configurations, 45 hours of excitation time, and 50 distinct eigenforms identified.
Deutsche Aircraft gave thanks to the teams involved in the test, especially its partners at DLR. The company stated that the successful completion of the test marks a powerful demonstration of the possibilities when industry and applied research are in sync.
Julian Sinske from the DLR Institute of Aeroelasticity, stated that with successful completion of the GVT, the company can now evaluate upcoming modifications to the research of aircraft in terms of their aeroelastic behaviour.
About Deutsche Aircraft
Deutsche Aircraft is an aircraft manufacturer based in Germany. The company started as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in early December 2022. The company has a strong belief in sustainable aviation and aims to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions. The aircraft manufacturer has been developing its D328eco for years, an aircraft based entirely on sustainability. The aircraft is a 40-seat aircraft that is compatible with sustainable aviation fuel and hydrogen-based fuels.
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