Structural Health Monitoring based Ground Support Equipment

When it comes to aviation maintenance and ground support for flight-critical applications as commissioned by the United States Air Force, as well as various commercial aircraft, turn times are key. Ground support equipment (GSE) is needed to improve parts reliability, reduce maintenance cycle time and costs, and improve mission readiness while meeting demanding production schedules. Sensor network based Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems have the potential to provide real-time and historical sensor based data on the integrity of any structural platform requiring inspection and maintenance. SHM systems when used as ground support equipment (GSE) can reliably detect, localize and quantify damage in components. These GSE system are especially beneficial in structures and areas that are hard to access and require disassembly. Using current SHM systems as a basis, Acellent proposes a program for qualification and transition of SHM based Ground Support Equipment for the in-situ ground inspection/monitoring of metal or composite structures on USAF aircraft, spacecraft and unmanned platforms. Phase I will focus on identification of USAF platforms and customers who can utilize the SHM GSE tool to avail of the inspection cost benefits in collaboration with the Boeing Company.