Qualification Testing

From the heat of launch to the extreme chill of altitude, aerospace components are often exposed to a wide range of extreme temperatures while in service. The purpose of temperature testing is to predict how a given material or component will perform under these circumstances. NMG’s thermal shock and environmental test chambers are to recreate these dramatic temperature swings or prolonged periods of extreme exposure in a controlled laboratory environment.

Changes in altitude are often accompanied by drastic changes in both temperature and pressure. Aircraft parts and materials must be able to withstand these changes while continuing to fulfill their intended purpose. Laboratory altitude testing allows manufacturers to demonstrate how a component will handle altitude changes without ever leaving the ground.

Many aircraft components are exposed to humid environments while in service. While excess humidity can cause a number of issues, the greatest is corrosion, which can lead to mechanical failure and electrical shortages. Understanding the effects of humidity is vital to designing a system that can maintain performance when exposed to humid conditions. NMG leverages humidity testing to allow manufacturers to qualify the effects of humidity on aerospace components in a controlled environment so they can make validate performance.

Even in normal operations, an aircraft—and its many components and assemblies—can experience a variety of shocks. Landing, taxiing, strong winds during flight, and other standard events can transmit shock throughout the aircraft. Operation shock and crash safety testing is designed to demonstrate how aircraft parts respond to these forces by recreating shocks in a qualification laboratory setting.

Propellers, fans, turbojets, and other aerospace mechanisms generate a lot of vibration while in service. The intensity and duration of vibration can vary depending on the aircraft and the flight. Aircraft components can be subjected to standardized vibration profiles based on what they may encounter in service to ensure compliance with performance standards. NMG has deep knowledge of the vibration testing methods for each aircraft outlined in RTCA DO-160.

Changes in altitude, humidity, and temperature can lead to ice buildup on many aircraft. Icing test protocols can recreate several icing scenarios, based on the location of a component within an aircraft, and determine whether performance is compromised by icing.