Military Aircraft Seat Vibration Mitigation Proof of Concept (PoC) Testing and Analysis Methodology

This document presents a military aircraft seat vibration mitigation proof-of-concept (PoC) methodology and capability established within the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) 711th Human Performance Wing (711 HPW) for human-occupied laboratory test/analysis of vibration mitigation seating system concepts. The methodology specifically targets military rotary-wing/tilt-rotor aircraft but can be extended to military fixed-wing propeller aircraft. It specifies the recommended facility and instrumentation requirements, test regime, and data collection/analysis processes and procedures and is packaged for quality, time, and cost effectiveness. The development of this PoC methodology leveraged the studies conducted by the AFRL 711 HPW. The first study was conducted in 2018 (Smith, S.D., et al., 2019) and is used to illustrate the analyses that have been explored in the development of the PoC methodology. Three additional studies were conducted between 2021 and 2023. The studies included a pilot seat and cabin seat designed for use in a fixed-wing propeller aircraft, and a pilot seat designed for a helicopter. The reports for these studies have not been cleared for public release at this time. This document is intended as a user guide for military aircraft seat vibration mitigation PoC testing and analysis for improving seat design where further mitigation may be warranted prior to conducting.