MERC engineers measured the magnitude of the misalignment.
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Applied Mechanics Division © 1987-2010 Mercer Engineering Research Center 135 Osigian Blvd. • Warner Robins, GA 31088 info@merc-mercer.org • www.merc-mercer.org • 478.953.6800 Helicopter Tailboom Misalignment Effects on Fatigue MERC was tasked to evaluate the residual stresses resulting from a tailboom assembly misalignment. The misalignment was measured, and the tailboom FEM was used to model the misalignment and determine the residual stresses. The reduction in fatigue life was subsequently calculated. The FEM predicted elevated residual fin spar stresses due to the misalignment. The MERC tailboom FEM includes detail at critical locations.Helicopter Tailboom Misalignment Effects on FatigueHelicopter Tailboom Misalignment Effects on Fatigue Helicopter Tailboom Misalignment Effects on Fatigue