T. Carstensen, Sikorsky Aircraft, Stratford, CT
The Survivable Affordable Repairable Airframe Program (SARAP) Virtual Prototype and Validation (VPV) Program is a multi year cooperative agreement between Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and the U.S. Army Applied Aviation Technical Directorate (AATD) to validate technology advances in design processes, structural efficiency, crashworthiness, materials and manufacturing processes, and repairability of rotorcraft airframe structures. Specific objectives of the SARAP VPV program include a 25% weight reduction, a 40% recurring and 40% non-recurring cost reduction, while reducing overall development time, maintaining or improving crashworthiness, and field repairability of the structure as compared to baseline designs such as the UH-60. To achieve these aggressive program goals a number of number new design, analysis, and materials, and process technologies have been evaluated.
The SARAP VPV program is divided into a number of major task efforts, which include:
· Development of Technology Baselines (UH-60 cabin and H-53 center fuselage)
· Technology Development/Refinement (Design processes, sensor based technologies, design concepts, materials and processes.)
· Virtual Technology Designs (UH-60 cabin and H-53 center fuselage)
· Design, Fabrication, and Testing a Technology Demonstration Article (UH-60 cabin section)
This presentation will include an update on the overall Sikorsky SARAP VPV program approach with specific emphasis on an overview of the major technologies evaluated, the design of a virtual prototype, the design and manufacture of the technology validation article, and program metric validation approach.
Summary: The Survivable Affordable Repairable Airframe Program (SARAP) Virtual Prototype and Validation (VPV) Program is a multi year cooperative agreement between Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and the U.S. Army Applied Aviation Technical Directorate (AATD) to validate technology advances in design processes, structural efficiency, crashworthiness, materials and manufacturing processes, and repairability of rotorcraft airframe structures. Specific objectives of the SARAP VPV program include a 25% weight reduction, a 40% recurring and 40% non-recurring cost reduction, while reducing overall development time, maintaining or improving crashworthiness, and field repairability of the structure as compared to baseline designs such as the UH-60. To achieve these aggressive program goals a number of number new design, analysis, and materials, and process technologies have been evaluated.
