Real-time Precursor Diagnostics and Prognostics for Zero-Maintenance Rotorcrafts

Composite and metallic airframe structures are susceptible to different damage types. Fatigue cracks are the major damage concerns for metallic airframe structures where as impact induced delamination and debond are major concerns for composite airframe structures. However, once damage is initiated, it can grow extremely fast and can lead to catastrophic failure of the structure. Hence, it is very important to develop Health Conscious Structures (HCS) using advanced Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems that are capable of detecting damage precursors at an earlier stage than currently possible as well as reliable prognostic tools to accurately predict the remaining useful life (RUL) of the structure. Acellent technologies in collaboration with the University of South Carolina and Bell Helicopters proposes to develop a novel and advanced multi-sensor based SHM system that will detect damage precursors, monitor damage progression and accurately predict the remaining useful life of the structure in near real-time. The proposed approach will be applicable for both metal and composite structures. The proposed system will be tested and demonstrated with metallic coupons in Phase-I of this project whereas composite coupons will be tested as part of Phase-II of this project.