PROGNOSTIC TOOLS FOR SMALL CRACKS IN STRUCTURES

D. L. McDowell, R. W. Neu, J. Qu, A. Saxena

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

An integrated system for diagnosis of the “health” of a structural component subjected to high cycle fatigue (HCF) consists of sets of embedded or emplaced sensors at various locations, extracting information related to generation of material defects, presence of crack-like discontinuities and their progression, and changes of system dynamics which may relate to this progression. Conceptually, signals from these sensors are fed into a processing environment that can ascertain deleterious conditions related to the onset of loss of function or propagation of cracks to critical dimensions. Since the idea is to monitor the gradual changes of component performance and various local related indices before catastrophic failure to enable the operator to respond with a maintenance hold, it is essential to couple the diagnostics with prognostic capability; this facilitates a prediction of how much time remains within the window of viable servicing or repair. In the HCF regime, the dominant fraction of total fatigue life may be spent at crack lengths on the order of 20 to 500 pm. The detection of longer cracks near the end of component life is critical since component failure may lead to failure of the overall structure. This necessitates the identification of (i) finite-element algorithms for identifying component “hot spots” where failure is likely to occur, (ii) development of appropriate crack growth laws for cracks of different length scales, ranging from on the order of grain size to on the order of component dimensions, including consideration of contacting components (fretting ratigue) and environmental effects, and (iii) development of algorithms for identifying the progression of component degradation based on multiple sensor inputs at different time and length scales, providing feedback to support cause for maintenance shutdown. This paper discusses related work underway in the Structural Fatigue Task within a Department of Defense University Research Initiative (M-URI) on Integrated Diagnostics at Georgia Tech, monitored by the Office of Naval Research.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEmerging Technologies for Machinery Health Monitoring and Prognosis
Pages1-12
Number of pages12
ISBN (Electronic)9780791818268
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997
EventASME 1997 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE 1997 - Dallas, United States
Duration: 16 Nov 199721 Nov 1997

Publication series

NameASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Proceedings (IMECE)
Volume1997-AH

Conference

ConferenceASME 1997 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE 1997
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityDallas
Period16/11/9721/11/97

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