Piper Cherokee Tailplanes

Two complete aircraft tailplanes have been seperated to give two pairs of single tailplanes, which are independently analysed using Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometry (SLDV). By comparing the modal properties of these nominally similar single tailplanes, the differences in vibration response between what should be identical structures can be understood. This variation in the "normal" condition of a structure forms the basis of population-based SHM.