Computational corrosion modeling for Condition Based Maintenance Plus (CBM+)/aircraft environment tracking

The use of corrosion prognostic health management (CPHM) systems has the potential to enable both condition and usage based maintenance for corrosion. It is expected that this will make corrosion maintenance more efficient, resulting in higher safety and availability, and financial cost savings. This project aims to utilize the lessons learnt in previous work undertaken by Corrosion Prognostics, both prior and during the linked SBIR Phase I project, to develop an improved and expanded CPHM system. In Phase I the system was improved by the addition of a meteorological data driven modeling capability, more accurate surface wetness and corrosion kinetics, and the prediction of steel general corrosion. These new models were found to predict corrosion accurately. A Windows based software tool, that will function as an end-user interface was also developed. Designs, including requirements and specifications for a Phase II sensor suite, validation corrosion coupons, field data acquisition unit and ground based data analysis software were also specified. Phase two will include the manufacturing of a prototype CPHM system and deploying it to several air bases for validation testing, as well as expanding the modeling capabilities so that a prototype production system will be available for use in Phase III.