SHM Technology for Space Applications

ABSTRACT: SHM hardware is needed to meet AFSPC needs for resilient bus technologies.All components attached to space systems are required to be securely fastened in order to provide a good thermal conduction path, and ensure they will not become a hazardous projectile during launch. This requirement is enforced through a limited number of periodic manual spot checks on fasteners, and typically a single mechanical (shock and vibration) and environmental (temperature under vacuum) checkout. This however, leaves a lot of opportunity for the system to change unexpectedly and inadvertently during other periods of the life-cycle. There is also no current capability to do this inspection during or post launch. The MD7-Pro system provides a self-contained, comprehensive guided wave inspection capability. This hardware will be able to be used for an automated, remote, on-demand checks for loosened fasteners and thermal gaps anywhere in a space structure, without disassembly, even in inaccessible locations. During the proposed work, MDC will work to determine an optimal configuration to minimize SWaP for a representative satellite structure, conduct a trade study on risk reducing approaches for surviving space environment and finally produce a small-scale demonstration using embedded algorithms to detect degree of faster loosening.; BENEFIT: Once successfully demonstrated through a Phase II effort, there exists a broad commercial market for this SHM method.One of the key success factors for this technology is its versatility; the ability not only to be integrated into new applications, but to be retrofitted into an existing asset designs. Initial relevant markets would include space applications, but the technology could easily proliferate into any DoD asset, ranging from fixed wing to rotorcraft to ships and ground vehicles, to aid in condition based maintenance. Once demonstrated in defense applications, comparable commercial opportunities exist, particularly for aircraft and potentially buildings and civil infrastructure once the production cost has been driven low enough.MDC will work through strategic partners to license the technology for production and deployment.