WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Purdue University engineers are helping the U.S. Coast Guard modify a search-and-rescue aircraft to allow installation of a larger observation window.
Researchers are fearful installation of the window, designed to improve visibility during missions, might create a 10-fold increase in vibration.
The Lockheed Martin HC-130J Hercules aircraft has a circular observation window about a foot in diameter. The Coast Guard wants to install a window that's about 4 feet long by 3 1/2 feet wide.
"The potential disadvantage of making a change like this to an aircraft's fuselage is that it could increase the noise and vibration environment inside the aircraft to dangerous levels, making it difficult for the rescuers to complete their missions," said Douglas Adams, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue.
The engineers say the impact of increased vibration could be managed by installing special vibration-isolating seats.
Mechanical engineers created two mock panels of the aircraft's fuselage, one with the large window and one with no window. The engineers analyzed the two panels, comparing how much vibration and sound each would create.
Findings will be detailed in the November/December issue of Experimental Techniques magazine.
