Strong vibrations can have devastating effects on aircraft and, in extreme cases, lead to crashes. At the DLR Institute of Aeroelasticity in Göttingen, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) conducted live tests to ensure the future control system of the "VoloCity" air transporter.
The air taxi tested is the VoloCity model. Its unique feature is the arrangement of 18 electric motors within a circular elastic ring. "This distinctive feature poses a significant challenge for the aeroelastic vibration behavior," explains test manager Keith Soal from the DLR Institute of Aeroelasticity. The vibration test revealed characteristic behaviors of the structure. These dynamic properties can then be incorporated into the flight control system for specific flight maneuvers.
Photos: DLR
During the week-long vibration test in Bruchsal, the fully assembled structure of the aircraft was subjected to vibrations. The aircraft was suspended using rubber cables, allowing 210 accelerometers to provide measurement data that simulated the structure's behavior in flight. Scientists from Göttingen analyzed the results during the test and provided them to Volocopter. This test is a crucial component for obtaining the VoloCity's flight certification.
“The ground vibration test has confirmed the dynamic properties and the model predictions – an important milestone that brings us closer to certification,” said Hugo Nunes, Aircraft Dynamics Manager at manufacturer Volocopter.
The air taxi is designed to transport people or cargo over short distances in urban areas. It combines the advantages of a helicopter with the efficiency and environmental friendliness of electric propulsion.
Aeroelasticity is a field of aerospace engineering that deals with the interaction between aerodynamic forces and elastic vibrations of structures. These interactions are relevant in aviation for airplanes, helicopters, drones, and air taxis. In wind energy, rotor blades and entire wind turbines are also investigated for aeroelastic interactions. The DLR Institute in Göttingen is a European leader in the field of vibration testing for aircraft and wind turbines.
Back in 2021, the Göttingen researchers had already conducted a vibration test on a predecessor model. The results have been incorporated into the now improved successor model.
