Engineering Analysis And Design
|
Engineering Analysis And Design
|
|
|
Avionics Design For F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Aircraft
Q-Metrics was employed to conduct a thermal evaluation of two new touch panels that mount in the cockpit of the aircraft. Unlike many of the other avionics in the aircraft, these new panels receive no airflow from the aircraft’s cooling system. Instead, conduction, convection, and radiation into the cockpit ambient are the only means for dissipating the thermal loads from the panels. A further restriction on the cooling capability results from the fact that the air density in the cockpit varies with the altitude of the aircraft, directly affecting the convection cooling capability. The thermal evaluation examined the critical components within the panels under a variety of conditions and across the aircraft’s operating envelope. Given that the pilot’s/weapon officer’s interface with the panel is through touch, the temperature of the front panel was a critical design parameter. Other components with temperature limits included the relays, resistors, and diodes. Design changes were recommended to enhance the thermal performance of the panels, ensure the reliability of the electronics, and reduce the touch panel temperature. The result was a design that met all purchase specifications. Subsequent testing of prototype panels in a hot cell verified the thermal analysis and its conclusions.
|
|
|
The
nation's newest strike fighter, the F/A-18 Super Hornet, began undergoing
evaluation testing with the U.S. Navy in late May 1999. The Navy plans to buy a
minimum of 548 of the aircraft through 2010. As of the end of June, 1999 the
first seven production aircraft had been delivered on or ahead of the
contractual delivery date. Initial operational capability is scheduled for
September 2000 and the first fleet deployment of Super Hornets will be in May
2002. 
