Prognostic Health Assessment System for Aircraft Engine Nozzles

Impact Technologies, in collaboration with Luna Innovations, proposes to develop and demonstrate a prognostic health assessment system for aircraft engine nozzles and their associated actuation components. Modern aircraft deployed in limited runwaysituations have specific requirements for Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing capability. The Joint Strike Fighter has an adjustable three-bearing swiveled nozzle at the back end of the engine to generate downward thrust and increasingly forward thrust inflight. The development includes the necessary sensing, incipient fault detection algorithms, fault classification techniques, and advanced prognostic, useful life remaining algorithms. Luna will provide the necessary high-temperature, robust sensing andsome signal processing components, and Impact will apply feature-based diagnostics, suitable wear and fatigue failure mode progression algorithms, and advanced knowledge fusion within the nozzle actuation health assessment system. Moreover, Impact willimplement its proven probabilistic fusion process to update useful remaining life predictions from the failure progression model with observable diagnostic indicators and material inspections. A verification plan with consideration to the JSF engine andnozzle actuation development and testing programs at Pratt & Whitney and Smiths will also be developed during this effort.