Bohemia, N.Y. – Dayton T. Brown, Inc. (DTB) has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant by the US Navy to foster methods to accelerate and improve structural fatigue testing.  The goal of SBIR N211-014 is to develop a scalable, real-time, predictive, and adaptive model-based test frame control system that increases load cycling frequency while maintaining load accuracy for high-speed dynamic rotorcraft airframe testing.

Full scale fatigue testing is required for all new aircraft designs and is vital to ensure safety, reduce long term costs, and provide robust platforms that deliver long-term fleet readiness.  While all aircraft are subjected to this testing, rotorcraft often prove to be more difficult to evaluate because of the high cycle counts the airframes experience.  DTB has previously been awarded other SBIR grants including programs to develop fatigue testing methods for rotorcraft and also to develop overhaul methods for military landing gears with corrosion damage.

“We appreciate the US Navy’s confidence in our ability to greatly improve the test frame control system for rotorcraft,” commented William Bradshaw, DTB’s SBIR Program Manager.  “Our team offers the depth and breadth of structural test knowledge and experience required to make exponential improvements that will lead to more thorough, effective, and timely fatigue testing.”

The SBIR programs are highly competitive and designed to encourage domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development with the potential for commercialization.  Through a competitive awards-based process, SBIR programs enable small businesses to explore their technological potential and provide the incentive to profit from its commercialization.

For more information on SBIR programs, visit https://www.sbir.gov/