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The Aviation Industry Soars Using Interface Solutions

Interface is proud to offer a diverse range of force, torque, and weight measurement solutions to the aviation industry.

A sector within the aerospace industry, Interface aviation solutions are products we supply for use in the design, engineering and operation of aircraft.

The quality of our products, including the reliable form factor design, proprietary strain gages, and rugged materials, are built to withstand the rigorous performance standards and environments that aircraft safety demands. It is why Interface is a provider of choice for test and measurement solutions in the aviation industry. Check out our new Aircraft Solutions overview here.

The aircraft and aviation industries are vast and complex with many different sectors. Our products are currently used in commercial, general and military aviation, aviation infrastructure, equipment and systems. In addition to the mechanical component testing, Interface often supplies load cells, torque transducers and instrumentation for use in aviation training, education, research and development.

While aviation systems embody an extensive collection of interconnected components and technologies, this complexity does not lessen the requirements for rigorous sensor-based test and measurement programs for every part. Interface products help to collect critical data on the performance of aircraft components and systems. These aviation systems include aircraft, air traffic control, navigation and communication systems, infrastructure, ground support equipment, airport transport vehicles, aircraft testing labs, and tools.

We work with aeronautical and mechanical engineers who are involved in designing, developing, and maintaining aircraft, propulsion systems, avionics, and air traffic management technologies. Interface load cells and transducers provide accurate and reliable measurements of forces, weights and torques of aviation components and systems.

How does the aviation industry use Interface measurement solutions?

  • Aircraft engine manufacturers use our load cells and torque transducers to measure the operating performance within their design limits and for diagnostics and troubleshooting. Read: Aircraft Engine Hoist
  • Aviation system developers integrate our sensors into equipment and parts to provide continuous force monitoring and to trigger alarms for maintenance.
  • Rotorcraft part makers need to assess the loads and torques on blades and other components to the aircraft is safe to fly and to identify any weaknesses based on accurate measurements. Read:Propeller Testing
  • Landing gear experts use our load cells to confirm that the gear can withstand the forces encountered during takeoff, landing, and taxiing. Read: Landing Gear Joint Testing
  • Aircraft structures must be strong enough to withstand the forces encountered in flight. Testing is standard for cycle counts, environmental tests and assessment of materials. Interface products are used for assessing structural like wings and fuselages in wind tunnel tests. Read: Interface Solutions for Structural Testing and Aircraft Wing Fatigue App Note
  • Flight control systems are using measurement sensors to test and monitor the components used for various controls. Read: Aircraft Yoke Torque Measurement
  • In-flight systems and simulators utilize precision measurement devices to provide vital data that monitors aviation and aircraft health. This is important for real-time assessments and for training purposes. It is essential for the long-term growth of the industry to provide the best tools and equipment to learn the values of accurate measurement and how it impacts performance and safety.

Beyond the essential manufacturers of aircraft parts, aviation systems, and equipment, Interface supplies many of the leading aviation testing labs with load cells, load pins, torque transducers, wireless devices and instrumentation. The quality of our products is built to withstand the rigorous performance standards and environments that aircraft safety demands.

Our products are used for static testing, material testing, torque testing, fatigue testing, stress and tension tests, dynamic testing, environmental and wind tunnel testing, structural tests and compression testing. We also supply the aviation industry with measurement solutions for rigging, lifting, weighing and monitoring of equipment in use. Check out our Aircraft Lifting Equipment App Note.

Learn more about our range of solutions in this Airplane Jacking System solution.

The aviation industry is a dynamic and ever-changing industry, and the sectors within it are constantly evolving. New innovations in the aviation require extensive testing and accurate measurement. The aviation industry is a complex and demanding industry, and the development of new technologies requires a rigorous testing process.

The fact that Interface offers an extensive array of force measure devices in different models, capacities, configurations and capabilities helps aviation system suppliers and manufacturers. Our load cells and sensor technologies are used to measure a wide range of factors, such as tensions, weights, forces, and torques. This information can be used to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft and their components.

With a surplus of options that can meet the specifications of each use case and testing application, Interface is an experience and preferred provider to the aviation industry.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Interface Supports Wind Tunnel Testing

LIFTING: Airplane Jacking System

LIFTING: Aircraft Engine Hoist

Taking Flight with Interface Solutions for Aircraft Testing

Aircraft Wing Fatigue App Note

Aircraft Screwdriver Fastening Control App Note

Airplane Static Testing Case Study

Types of Force Measurement Tests 101

There are distinct types of force tests that engineers, product designers, manufacturers, and test labs perform to accurately measure factors that control quality, safety, and reliability.

Testing force helps to qualify how something will react when applying load, either by a normal application or by pulling and pushing it fails. The type of force measurement classifications are compression, fracture, tension, flexure, and shear.

Interface provides a broad range of solutions for static and dynamic force measurement tests including standard and custom transducers, instrumentation, accessories, frames, calibration equipment and other components used for in force testing.

The most common categories of force testing include:

  • Tensile testing
  • Shear testing
  • Compression testing
  • Fatigue testing
  • Torque testing
  • Hardness testing
  • Static testing
  • Mechanical strength testing
  • Material testing
  • Proof load testing
  • End of line testing

There are variations to each of these test classifications, such as cycle testing is often a subset of fatigue and mechanical strength tests. Hardness testing is frequently referred to as nondestructive testing. Initial R&D tests typically center around choosing materials, strength and durability tests, compression ergonomic and abrasion tests.

Here are the general characterizations of the most popular types of force tests.

Tensile Test

Tensile strength is the ability of a metal to withstand a pulling apart tension stress. Performing a tensile test, sometimes referred to as tension testing, applies uniaxial load to a test bar and gradually increasing the load until it breaks. The measurement of the load is against the elongation using an extensometer. The tensile data is analyzed by using a stress-strain curve. Interface load cells are commonly used for various tensile tests when accuracy of measurement matters.

Compression Test

Compression is the result of forces pushing towards each other. The compression test is like the tensile test. Place the object in a testing machine, apply a load and record the deformation. A compressive stress-strain curve is drawn from the data. Interface provides load cells that measure compression-only or tension and compression measurements from the same device.

Torque Test

Torque measurement determines how an object will react when it is turned or twisted. There are two common use cases, fastening tests of objects or by testing rotating parts in an assembly. The two types of torque measurement are reaction and in-line, which are important when selecting the type of torque transducer to use in your test. The wrong torque can result in the assembly failing due to several problems, whether that is by torque testing bolts or engine parts. Parts may not be assembled securely enough for the unit to function properly, or threads may be stripped because the torque was too high, causing the unit to fail. Torque is a force producing rotation about an axis. This type of testing is also extremely popular in automotive to measure a variety of components.

Shear Test

Shear strength is the ability to resist a “sliding past” type of action when parallel, but slightly off-axis, forces, applied in the test. Shear force is directional force that is over the top of a surface or part. Shear is measured by tension or compression using a shear or bending beam load cell.

Hardness Test

Hardness testing, which measures the resistance of any material against penetration, is performed by creating an indentation on the surface of a material with a hard ball, a diamond pyramid or cone and then measuring the depth of penetration. Hardness testing is categorized as a non-destructive test since the indentation is small and may not affect the future usefulness of the material. There are a wide variety of hardness testing types as well.

Examples of Testing Types

Compression Test Example

Interface’s customer wanted to measure the amount of compression force a piece of candy could withstand to ensure its label is marked correctly. The purpose of the test was to correctly calibrate the equipment to provide the same stamping force each time without breaking the candy apart. An Interface Model WMC Mini Load Cell and 9330 Battery Powered High Speed Data Logging Indicator are used to measure the results. Read more about this compression test here.

Torque Measurement Example

In this example torque testing accurately measures the forced needed to securely fasten a bolt. This type of test is critical in highly regulated industries like aerospace and automotive to ensure every screw and bolt are not over or under-tightened. Interface’s LWCF Clamping Force Load Cell along with Interface’s INF-USB3 Universal Serial Bus Single Channel PC Interface Module provide a solution that monitors the force being applied during bolt tightening.

Shear Test Example

This example shows how aerospace manufactures use shear testing to measure the affects of wind as it moves past the wings, hull, and other components of a plane. Interface measured this force using a Model 6A154 6-Axis Load Cell mounted in the floor of the wind tunnel, and connected  to the scaled model by a “stalk”. A BX8-AS Interface BlueDAQ Series Data Acquisition System was connected to the sensor to collect data.

As products become more complex and technologically advanced, the test and measurement industry must provide solutions to monitor a wide variety of factors. This is no different in force measurement.

Interface has been involved in every type of force measurement type across a variety of applications both large and small. To learn more about our more than 36,000 product SKUs designed to conduct all these tests, from single load cells and torque transducers to complete testing rigs and systems. We also provide calibration services for all types of force measurement transducers. Contact us if you are unsure which force measurement solution best fits your testing plan.

Additional Resources

Tensile Testing for 3D Materials

Material Tensile Testing

Interface Solutions for Material Testing Engineers

Bike Handlebar Fatigue Testing

Interface Specializes in Fatigue-Rated Load Cells

Specifying Accuracy Requirements When Selecting Load Cells

Spring Compression Testing App Note

Insights in Torque Testing Featured in Quality Magazine