Verification of an airframe fatigue life monitoring system using ex-service structure. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Molent, L.; Mau, V.
• Is Part Of: Engineering failure analysis. Volume 83(2018)
• Page Start: 207
• Page End: 219
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: AA7050 -- Fatigue -- Crack growth -- Fatigue tracking; System failures (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Fracture mechanics -- Periodicals; Reliability (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Pannes -- Périodiques; Rupture, Mécanique de la -- Périodiques; Fiabilité -- Périodiques; Fracture mechanics; Reliability (Engineering); System failures (Engineering); Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.112
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2017.09.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-6307

Abstract

Abstract: In this paper the verification of the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) F/A-18 Hornet Airframe Service Life Monitoring system is summarised. The availability of a significant number of RAAF ex-service centre fuselage sections with known usage facilitated this effort. Using an enhanced teardown procedure, in-service crack growth was identified at a significant number of locations. By comparing measured in-service growth with full scale fatigue test-demonstrated growth, and fitting failure distributions to the in-service data, the effectiveness of the monitoring system in maintaining a specific probability of failure was assessed. Highlights: Crack growth data from enhanced teardown of 7 ex-service aircraft components Components removed from service when life limits reached Allowed a verification of the ability of fatigue monitoring system to help maintain a required cumulative probably of failure level