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14
CONVERSION COURSE
uk MODULE 5
DIGITAL TECHNIQUES
ELECTROMAGNETIC
ENVIRONMENT
engineering ELECTRONIC
INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS
1 ELECTROMAGNETIC ENVIRONMENT
With the development of electronics and digital systems in aviation, aircraft are
becoming increasingly susceptible to High Intensity Radio Frequencies (HIRF).
Design philosophies in the area of aircraft bonding for protection against HIRF
employ methods which may not have been encountered previously by
maintenance personnel. Because of this, HIRF protection can be unintentionally
compromised during normal maintenance, repair and modification. It is therefore
critical that procedures contained in assembly and repair manuals contain reliable
procedures to detect any incorrect installation, which could degrade the HIRF
protection features.
There are three primary areas to be considered for aircraft operating in HIRF
environments.
uk MODULE 5
DIGITAL TECHNIQUES
ELECTROMAGNETIC
ENVIRONMENT
engineering ELECTRONIC
INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS
Table 1 gives some indication as to the maintenance tasks which may be applied
to certain types of electro magnetic protection features:
Tests of HIRF protection carried out depend upon the criticality of the system
under test. Types of test are as follows.
1.4 DC RESISTANCE
The milliohm meter is often used to measure the ground path resistance of
ground straps or bonding. This technique is limited to the indication of only single
path resistance values.
JAR 66 CATEGORY B1 MODULE 5.14
CONVERSION COURSE
uk MODULE 5
DIGITAL TECHNIQUES
ELECTROMAGNETIC
ENVIRONMENT
engineering ELECTRONIC
INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS
The test set-up requires simple test equipment, refer to Figure 1. A current of
about 1 kHz is fed into the conduit under test while measuring the voltage
necessary to drive that current. Other versions of the loop impedance test
arrangement use different frequencies (200 Hz is typical), and provide the
resistive and reactive parts of the loop impedance.
JAR 66 CATEGORY B1 MODULE 5.14
CONVERSION COURSE
uk MODULE 5
DIGITAL TECHNIQUES
ELECTROMAGNETIC
ENVIRONMENT
engineering ELECTRONIC
INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS
VOLTAGE CURRENT
GENERATOR MONITOR
(AC MILLI-VIOLTS)
CLAMP-ON CURRENT
TRANSFORMER
V1 II
CLAMP-ON CURRENT
FIXING HARDWARE TRANSFORMER
PROVIDING ELECTRICAL
BONDING
CONDUIT
STRUCTURE
uk MODULE 5
DIGITAL TECHNIQUES
ELECTROMAGNETIC
ENVIRONMENT
engineering ELECTRONIC
INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS
If, in practice, the current is set to 1A, the voltage figure, when expressed in
millivolts, gives the loop impedance in milliohms directly. The loop impedance is
normally in the range 1-100 milliohms. In this range, accurate results can easily
be achieved.
If too high loop impedance is found, the joint determining the problem has to be
identified. This can be performed by measuring the voltage drop across each
joint. The joint with the high voltage drop across it is the defective one, refer to
Figure 2.
VOLTAGE
GENERATOR
VOLTAGE
CLAMP-ON CURRENT MONITOR
TRANSFORMER
V1
V2
FIXING NUT
BAD JOINT
FERRULE
BRACKET
CONDUIT
STRUCTURE
uk MODULE 5
DIGITAL TECHNIQUES
ELECTROMAGNETIC
ENVIRONMENT
engineering ELECTRONIC
INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS
As there is no need for a wide band swept RF generator, the test equipment can
be quite simple and easy to handle. Hand held battery powered test equipment,
especially designed for production monitoring and routine maintenance, is
available on the market.
EMI is a subject closely allied to HIRF. Interference can occur in systems from
internal sources and external sources.
Full tests to be carried out are normally stipulated by the manufacturer or design
organisation.
uk MODULE 5
DIGITAL TECHNIQUES
ELECTROMAGNETIC
ENVIRONMENT
engineering ELECTRONIC
INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS
1.9 DEGAUSSING
If an aircraft is struck by lightning, structural damage can occur and parts of the
aircraft may remain magnetised. This magnetic force remaining is called
'Residual Magnetism', and since it could adversely effect some aircraft systems,
areas affected must be de-magnetised.
uk MODULE 5
DIGITAL TECHNIQUES
ELECTROMAGNETIC
ENVIRONMENT
engineering ELECTRONIC
INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS
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JAR 66 CATEGORY B1 MODULE 5.14
MODULE 5
ELECTROMAGNETIS
DIGITAL TECHNIQUES ENVIRONMENT
uk ELECTRONIC
INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS
engineering