Toward Simplified Methodologies for Seat Design to FAR §23.562 2002-01-1551

The development of pilot and passenger seats for the GA8 aircraft has provided insight into simplified analysis techniques and empirical approximations that may be applied to aid in the design of low cost seats meeting the requirements of FAR §23.562. The requirements of FAR §23.562 specify dynamic impact tests for aircraft seats together with the limits on occupant injury and seat damage as a consequence of the impact. Among the challenges these requirements provide for design engineers are the difficulties associated with formulating the requirements in the form of traditional strength and stiffness constraints, and that for an efficient design it will likely be necessary to design for loads beyond the linear elastic range of the materials being used. This paper details the lessons learned from a series of dynamic seat tests ultimately leading to the successful demonstration of compliance with FAR §23.562. The structural and dynamic analyses and static testing performed in conjunction with the dynamic tests as part of the design process are also discussed.