Automation of Aircraft Fatigue Life Estimation

The fatigue is an important factor in aircraft operation. A correct estimation of structure fatigue life is crucial for user and payload safety. However, due to high amount of data gathered during a typical recording of load spectra for different types of flights, the overall results become prone to human error. The paper describes development of a software able to perform an automated, in-depth analysis of data recorded with onboard accelerometers. Using the Rainflow Cycle Counting method, it transforms received data points into a Markov matrix. The prepared array is then recalculated into a half-cycle matrix, which can be collapsed into scalar value of fatigue level using the Palmgren-Miner rule. The method was tested with loads recorded during a typical flight conducted according to the Polish NSTS-06 flight scenario and simulated camera mounting fixed to a multirotor.