User-Friendly Software Tool for Galvanic and Crevice Corrosion Risk-Assessment on Aerospace Platforms

The proposed technology will meet the Navy need for a computational tool that can be used to minimize the risk of galvanic and crevice corrosion in sea-based aviation platforms. Conventional galvanic corrosion prediction tools will predict galvanic currents in coupled materials and then extrapolate a corrosion rate. Faraday’s solution will consider both the galvanic corrosion of mixed-material couples as well as the corrosion that can occur in the crevices of joined surfaces. The proposed program will develop models of the galvanically accelerated crevice corrosion process, collect data in relevant environments, and create predictions of corrosion rates. These predictions will be validated through long term corrosion testing of galvanic/crevice specimens. A software tool will be built that will provide model predictions to users to identify critical corrosion hotspots on aircraft, improve material selection strategies for both maintenance and design, and improve the ability for engineers to understand the tradeoffs in material selections and the mean time to failure of specific components.  Phase I will develop the conceptual corrosion model and validate its predictions through experimental corrosion testing. In Phase II, Faraday will deploy an early release version of the software and expand the capabilities of the model and accuracy of predictions. The resulting computational tool will enhance the ability for designers, engineers, and maintainers to reduce and anticipate the effects of corrosion on aircraft in sea-based environments.