AGATE History

AGATE Shared Database Process

In recent years, NASA, industry and the FAA have worked together to help the aviation industry deliver more aircraft in less time by sharing central material qualification databases. This concept was first tested with the databases formed through the Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments (AGATE), formed by NASA in 1995 and led by NIAR at WSU. The purpose of AGATE was to develop affordable new technology, industry standards and certification methods for general aviation aircraft.

Before AGATE, the traditional approach to qualifying materials meant individual companies used "customized" qualification programs, leading to detailed and expensive procedures for each company. Costs increased further as other procedures were established for structural testing, manufacturing control and repair. As a result, most programs were limited to using materials previously qualified for other programs, which led to using older, outdated material and not taking advantage of the latest technology and material advances in the industry.

With the creation of AGATE, the AGATE Shared Database Process was formed. The shared databases created using the AGATE process allowed a manufacturer to select a pre-approved composite material system to fabricate parts through a smaller subset of testing for a specific application (known as equivalency). The materials accepted into these shared databases required that the raw materials be manufactured in accordance with process control documents and material specifications, which impose control of the key physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the material.

Through the joint collaboration of two government agencies, NASA and FAA, AGATE was able to reduce the time required for certification of new composite materials by a factor of four and the cost of certification by a factor of 10. The timeline below highlights the progress AGATE made, leading to NCAMP.

After the AGATE program came to an end in November 2001, the FAA continued to help develop a material specification guide that would outline the requirements for the material, such as the basic material properties and visual requirements, as well as be a procurement document for buying the material. Using this methodology, an aircraft company would not only know what they were buying, but would have a document that allowed them to procure and take possession of the material.

AGATE versus NCAMP

The AGATE approach involved a material supplier developing the material and then several aircraft companies qualifying the material. However, there was no guidance material for aircraft companies to use when preparing material and process specifications other than experiences gained from a previous program. Also, once the material was qualified, the only criteria used to evaluate the material after it was put into production was a pass/fail test.

This process changes with the NCAMP approach. In this approach, the material is developed by the material supplier. The supplier then determines the initial characterization of the material. Next, NCAMP participates in qualifying the material, preparing it for production and use by aircraft companies. Once the material is in production, NCAMP, along with the material users and material supplier, will monitor and conduct periodic property testing to evaluate any changes in the material. Through these efforts, NCAMP is providing the aerospace industry with a localized center for composite and advanced material validation and quality assurance.