SUSAN Electrofan Composite Testing Setup

Composite material tests help determine the properties of composite wing skins used on a 25% scale model of NASA’s Subsonic Single Aft eNgine (SUSAN) hybrid electric aircraft concept. In order to address new loads on the aircraft’s wings, researchers study the materials that make up the aircraft’s wing and fuselage surfaces to help optimize their structures for improved safety and performance. These materials undergo a series of composite and stress tests which allow researchers to characterize their properties and observe their behavior under extreme loads and operating conditions.