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A course has been developed to provide an Introduction to Flight Testing to link classroom theory with the practical world of flight testing. The dual-control aerobatic trainer used for this course can perform most of the typical flight test maneuvers used for civilian or military testing, but at a fraction of the cost. This one-flight course was designed to introduce University engineering students to the disciplines of flight testing. The course covers basics of Performance testing together with stability and control. Stalls and spins are also demonstrated, and the students are introduced to basic aerobatic maneuvers.

The perturbed boundary condition (PBC) model updating procedure has been developed to correct the finite element model [1]. The use of additional structural configurations adds more experimental information about the system and so better updating results can be expected. While it works well for simulated examples, practical limitations and additional requirements arise when it is used to update engineering structures. In this paper, the merits and the practical limitations of the techmques will be discussed in depth through the updating of a simulated system where the “measured” data is generated by computer and a real test structure where the experimentally measured data is noisy and distorted due to leakage. Useful suggestions and recommendations are drawn to guide the model updating of practical engineering structures.

A new method to estimate a structure's inertia properties using a prototype load cell designed to measure all loads and moments applied to a structure is presented. This prototype six-axis transducer approach employs 32 piezoelectric sensing elements which are arranged to form the load cell. These redundant measurements are used to determine the principal forces and moments from an overdetermined set of equations. Calibration of this multi-crystal load cell is performed with a fixture that utilizes a calibration mass and quasi-free-free boundary conditions. The resulting calibration matrix is a 6×32 transformation from the coupled measurements to a decoupled set of pseudo measurements consisting of the forces acting on a structure. With this transducer and its calibration matrix, a system's inertia properties can be estimated. A thorough discussion of both the calibration and inertia estimation procedure with a experimental test case is presented.

This paper presents a new method of extracting light from optical waveguides, such as plastic optical fiber. Optical elements are designed, using mathematical modeling, so they redirect light in a controlled manner out of the waveguide. With precision manufacturing, optical elements can be produced as an integral part of optical fiber. Light extraction can also be added after manufacturing through the application of an optically shaped tape. Either method results in a highly efficient lighting element that produces significantly more light than previous methods of light extraction. Many applications of this technology are envisioned. A narrow, flexible CHMSL, automotive interior lighting, and marker/turn lights are possible applications.

A testing procedure has been developed for measuring rotation/moment impedance functions. At connection points between components, both rotations and moments have important contributions in describing the dynamic characteristics of a coupled system. Analytically, both rotations and moments are included at connection points and are necessary for achieving a high fidelity model of a system. Experimentally, these effects have been historically neglected since no acceptable rotational transducers exist. If high fidelity impedance models are to be developed from experimental data, it is important to measure rotational impedance functions. In this paper a testing method is developed which uses the motion of a rigid body attached at a point of interest to determine displacements, forces, rotations and moments at the point of interest.

The effect and description of vehicle breaktests preformed under conditions of low ambient temperature and the evaluation of the effect of break fluid viscosity, under these conditions, on break system performance. Vehicle breaking tests were preformed within the artic circle.