Prediction of Fatigue Crack Growth in Airframe Structures

Abstract

The paper describes the general proposal, function and performance of a prognostics system for fatigue crack growth in airframe structures. Prognostic capabilities are important to a superior Structural Health Monitoring System (SHM). An aim of the prognosis is estimation / prediction of a system / subsystem / structure remaining life, i.e. the time at which damage (crack, corrosion, wear, delamination, disbonding, etc.) will result in a failure of the considered element.