TURBINE ENGINE ROTOR SYSTEM FAILURE PREDICTION AND PREVENTION

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO DEVELOP A METHODOLOGY AND A PROTOTYPE DESIGN FOR A SYSTEM CAPABLE OF PREDICTING FAILURE OF ROTATING PARTS IN TURBINE ENGINES. SCT PROPOSES AN INNOVATIVE, INTEGRATED APPROACH THAT ASSIMILATES DATA FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES TO TREND ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND HEALTH. INDICATIONS OF COMPONENET FAILURE WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND ACTUAL DATA WILL BE COMPARED AGAINST THE INDICATORS TO DETERMINE IMPENDING FAILURE. HISTORICAL TRENDING OF RELEVANT DATA ON ENGINE OPERATIONS WILL BE USED TO DETERMINE FAILURE TRENDS. THE DESIGN WILL ADDRESS REQUIREMENTS OF THE PILOT/ENGINE OPERATOR, FIRST LINE MECHANIC AND OVERHAUL MECHANIC. THE METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN WILL BE BASED ON EXTENSIVE SURVEY OF THE MILITARY AND CIVILIAN ENGINE HEALTH MONITORING AND DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEMS. THE RESULTS OF THIS INVESTIGATION WILL PROVIDE THE IMPETUS FOR DEVELOPING INTEGRATED PREDICTIVE SYSTEMS FOR TURBINES INTHE COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY ENVIRONMENT. POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS INCLUDE LARGE COMMERCIAL AIES, AS WELL AS THE GROWING FLEET OF COMMERCIAL HELICOPTERS AND CORPORATE JET AIRPLANES.