Rain Erosion Tester

Test Systems

Aerospace Rain Erosion Tester

How to improve the longevity of leading edge protection systems

Today, the leading edges of airplanes often have to be repaired due to harsh weather conditions and increased speeds and size of airplanes. Therefore, it is important to investigate how to improve the longevity of the leading edge protection systems.

The Aerospace Rain Erosion Tester from R&D Test Systems helps improve the longevity of airplane wings by testing erosion on the leading edges of the wings. This test system has a proven level of repeatability and complies with SAE AMS-C-83231A Aerospace Material Specification for Coatings, Polyurethane, Rain Erosion Resistant for Exterior Aircraft and Missile Plastic Parts. This test system has a proven level of repeatability and fulfills DNV GL's Recommended Practice (DNVGL-RP-0171) for the testing of rotor blade erosion protection systems.

The Aerospace Rain Erosion Tester has earned international acclaim for its reliability and documented repeatability It is widely used by leading coating manufacturers and test centers. So far, 14 companies worldwide use the test system, for example, Hempel.

Benefits

  • Turnkey test system delivered in a housing made of 20-foot containers
  • SAE AMS-C-83231A Aerospace Material Specification for Coatings, Polyurethane, Rain Erosion Resistant for Exterior Aircraft, and Missile Plastic Parts
  • Proven level of repeatability and reliability
  • User-friendly operator interface
  • High uptime as tests can be conducted automatically after running-in
  • Automatic erosion documentation and test report generation
  • The design of the test specimens allows for testing of various surfaces and materials such as FRP and aluminum
  • Full-automatic operation
  • CE marking
Download R&D Test Systems' Rain Erosion Tester brochure

Turnkey test system

R&D Test Systems offers a turnkey test system that includes the rain system, a rotor with test specimen holders, drainage, ventilation, and control system delivered in a housing of 20-foot containers.

The equipment

It is based on a 3-bladed helicopter principle with test specimens shaped like the leading edges of a standard airplane wing. This test setup ensures conditions very similar to real-life harsh weather in an accelerated way.

  • Three-bladed rotor with test specimen holders
  • Leading-edge-shaped test specimens; exposed length approx. 390 mm
  • Intense and adjustable rain generation
  • Adjustable water temperature
  • Water demineralization system
  • Controlled air exchange (with frost protection)
  • Camera for documentation of erosion
  • Test report generation, including tracking of test parameters
  • Full-automatic operation
  • CE marking

Adjustable test parameters

2.0-3.5 mm
Droplet size (diameter)
200-400 mm
Drop height
29-53 mm/h
Rain intensity
4-30 degrees °C
Water temperature
172-224 m/s
Test specimen tip speed
User-defined
Time slice can be reduced to 15 min
Airplane

Turnkey solution

R&D Test Systems offers a turnkey solution that includes the rain system, a rotor with test specimen holders, drainage, ventilation, and control system delivered in a housing of 20-foot containers.

System safety is an important parameter, seeing as it ensures safe operation during tests at extreme rotational velocities. System safety is guaranteed both by R&D Test Systems and by external machine safety specialists.

Read more about our other aerospace test systems

How can we help you?

For further information about the Aerospace Rain Erosion Tester, please contact us

Contact persons
NPE
Niels Pedersen
Key Account Manager
Thomas Andersen
Director - Service & Manufacturing
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