Sensitivity Analysis of the Nasgro Equation Based on the PZL-130 TC-II Orlik Trainer Aircraft Full Scale Fatigue Test

Abstract

The study investigates the sensitivity of numerical crack propagation estimations based on the Nasgro equation. The equation is widely used for crack propagation calculations since it considers the whole range of crack propagation speed from threshold to critical values of stress intensity factor range (∆K). The presented investigation is based on the actual results of the full scale fatigue test (FSFT) of the PZL-130 ‘Orlik’ TC-II aircraft. We provide a brief description of the test and the general approach followed in crack propagation estimations originally carried out after the test. The obtained results are verified in terms of variation of the input data. Overall results are compared and discussed.