Very High Frequency (VHF) Monitoring System for Engine Accessories Health Management

SDL proposes a new concept for very high frequency vibration based engine accessory prognostics. A new sensing technology being developed in a parallel programm enables a new signal processing approach that deterministically measures flaw size. For instance, the actual length of a bearing race spall can be determined, rather than relying on assumed correlations between vibration feature amplitudes and defect size that are obtained in simple laboratory tests in pristine and stable operating conditions. BENEFIT: The proposed work will greatly improve the robustness of engine accessory prognostics to real world effects. This will speed the transition of prognostics technology from the laboratory to fielded programs.