1.11.2011

TsAGI Aircraft Structure Strength Department celebrates 80 years

A scientific and technological seminar was held in Zhukovsky in October 2011 to mark the 80th anniversary of the Aircraft Structure Strength Department of the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute.

Representatives from more than 30 organizations came to congratulate management, scientists and specialists from the TsAGI Strength Complex, including: JSC UAC, JSC Sukhoi, CJSC Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, JSC Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, JSC Kazan Helicopters, JSC Tupolev, JSC IL, Gromov Flight Research Institute, Siberian Aeronautical Research Institute named after S. A. Chaplygin, JSC Irkut Corporation, the Aviation Register of Interstate Aviation Committee (ARMAK), Mechanical Engineering Institute Named After A.A. Blagonravov, the Department of Aeromechanics and Flight Engineering of MIPT, and others.

In his opening remarks, TsAGI Chief Executive Sergey Chernyshev noted:

“Today new priorities and tasks are at the forefront, and they are all primarily associated with the use of composite materials. Our age is an age of the widespread use of composites. We are not yet able to design completely composite constructions. There is a lot of work to be done in this area to develop design techniques and a regulatory framework. There are thousands of tests and a tremendous amount of work ahead of us, to be performed both by TsAGI, and our colleagues at the design bureaus.”

The keynote speech, “TsAGI strength complex: history, problems and prospects” (by M.Ch. Zichenkov, G.N. Zamula) was delivered at the seminar by TsAGI Deputy General Director and Head of the Strength Complex Michael Zichenkov.

In his opinion, the seminar and presentations by professionals are very important for the work of the strength complex to ensure the safe operation and long-term competitiveness of future aircraft.

The heads of three research departments in the strength complex also gave speeches at the seminar.

Currently, the major long-term goals related to the strength of aircraft structures, are to increase the safety factor 3–5 times, reduce weight by 20 percent, increase aircraft service life 1.5–2 times, reduce manufacturing and maintenance costs 15–20 percent, and reducing development and production time.

One of the traditional and most important areas of work for the strength complex is to conduct computational-experimental studies on samples of materials, standard components, assemblies, full-scale structures and aero-elastic models in wind tunnels as part of the development, certification and operation of specific aircraft. In 2008–2010, under contract with CJSC Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, the institute carried out comprehensive research on the strength, load and aero-elasticity of the SSJ 100.

As a result of unique work, strength complex specialist have prepared a conclusion on first flights, and determined a sequence of joint actions by TsAGI and the design bureau to expand constraints and improve the performance of a 5th generation fighter.

Fatigue tests carried out on the Il-96-400 up to 30,000 flight cycles showed a significant increase in the aircraft service life.

Acoustic testing of spacecraft construction is conducted periodically in the RC-1500 reverberation chamber to confirm the construction’s vibration resistance to the effects of the expected acoustic loads before launch.

An unprecedented amount of research is being carried out jointly with JSC AeroCompozit and JSC Irkut on materials, samples of structural elements, and the structural power scheme, to ensure the high strength, aero-elasticity and service life characteristics of the new long-haul MS-21 aircraft.