Modular and Flexible On-Ground Test Bench for Aircraft Electromechanical Actuators

TLDR: In this paper, a modular and flexible test rig architecture is proposed that allows different actuators to be tested alone or in combination so that all actuators of both wings may be analyzed together.

Abstract: Replacement of hydraulic actuators used in flight control surfaces by electromechanical systems is a current ongoing topic that targets higher performance in terms of efficiency, weight, maintenance, and pollution. While hydraulic actuators are already well-known systems for flight control surfaces, electromechanical actuators are still being developed and improved, and they have to be rigorously tested before they are used in the sky. Test benches used to analyze such systems are designed to be specific to the actuator being tested and lack correlation with other aircraft actuators. This work proposes a modular and flexible test rig architecture that allows different actuators to be tested alone or in combination so that all actuators of both wings may be analyzed together. Moreover, the proposed system allows the actuators to be tested by using dedicated power and control systems or by directly connecting them to the control bus bar and power source of a real aircraft. The test rig architecture and its components are described in detail and their application in new types of aileron and flap-tab electromechanical actuators explained.