Algorithms optimise aircraft maintenance
Advances in structural health monitoring (SHM) of aircraft structures promise significant time- and cost reductions in inspection and maintenance while enhancing safety. Simultaneous development of optimised maintenance strategies based on sensed information will ensure that smart SHM structures with embedded sensors can be realised.The goal of the EU-funded project 'Reliability oriented optimisation of structural replacement strategies for aircraft structures' (ROSA) is to provide the methodology and associated software required for the life-cycle optimisation of inspection and maintenance activities. A stiffened panel served as the test structure.To accurately assess safety and cost factors, ROSA included the monitoring system in the model of damage growth in the stiffened composite material under different impact scenarios. Sensitivity analysis helped determine the most relevant model parameters. The quality of the monitoring system was shown to be critical to optimisation of the regular interval between inspections. In addition, the total expected maintenance element cost was integrally related to the probability of false alarm of a given SHM system.Although the ROSA model was developed for the stiffened panel, it is easily applicable to more complex structures due to the modularity of the methodology. It can also be extended to include flight conditions in the future. SHM technologies for monitoring aircraft components incorporating embedded sensors are currently the subject of extensive research and development. ROSA software for optimising inspection and maintenance scheduling will enable rapid exploitation of the data those technologies promise to provide. It will even support SHM adoption by providing a holistic approach. The combination is expected to significantly reduce failures and downtime in addition to operating and maintenance costs for major impact on the competitive position of aircraft manufacturers.
Keywords
Aircraft structures, structural health monitoring, embedded sensors, software, optimised maintenance strategies
