Ground vibration test optimization on the Falcon 6X

Overview & Synopsis

The Ground Vibration Test of a new aircraft is a required certification test, on the critical path for the first flight authorization. The GVT is mandatory to characterize the structure and tune aircraft numerical model to conduct dynamic studies. Reducing the time needed to perform this test with increased precision and confidence in the results is of prime interest for aircraft manufacturer. In July 2020, the GVT of DASSAULT-AVIATION latest aircraft Falcon 6X was performed in collaboration with ONERA and SOPEMEA. The test took 12 days and thanks to adequate organization results were derived very quickly permitting an update of the Finite Element Model. Two reference methods used during GVT are the Phase Resonance Method and the Phase Separation Method. This paper describes how these two methods combined with SOPEMEA, ONERA and DASSAULT-AVIATION collaboration led to an optimized test campaign.