Potential connections of cockpit floor-seat on passive vibration reduction at a piston propelled airplane

Abstract

Improving aircraft pilot comfort requires continuous work in decreasing vibrations in the seat. In order to determine the suitability and potential of cockpit floor - seat connections we conducted an experiment where measurements were taken and seat vibration analysis conducted. Vibrations parameters were measured for maximum engine and propeller speed. This analysis indicates that passive vibrations damping or cockpit floor - seat connections functionality depends on flights profile and vibrations frequency. The connection in question was behaving like a vibration multiplier on the 3rd and 4th harmonic as well as on the 3,5 sub-harmonic in individual flight modes on basic propeller rotation frequency, however, it behaved as a vibration silencer on all other frequencies. Analysis of the experimental data has shown that it would be justified to start improving the self adaptive unit for active vibration reduction for pilot seats.