AFRL Supports F-35 JSF With Acoustic and Impact Testing Published May 7, 2007 By Air Vehicles Directorate AFRL/VA WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- AFRL signed a commercial test agreement with Northrop Grumman to conduct acoustic fatigue and impact testing of a thin-gage composite material with a SynCore™ center structure. This material system is intended for use on the interior walls of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's (JSF) inlet duct. Researchers subjected the test article to sonic fatigue loading in order to simulate pressure fluctuations resulting from engine noise and airflow through the inlet duct. The impact testing simulated the effects of small-impact loads (e.g., a tool drop or a bird strike). Engineers will use the test results to evaluate the material system's durability and damage tolerance capabilities as applicable to the construction of inlet duct walls. The completed tests, which contributed to fulfilling the certification requirements for F-35 inlet duct assembly, represent a significant step towards fielding this material system on the future operational JSF. Northrop Grumman will also use this data to validate its analytical models.