Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

Matthew Harrigan

Bryan S Cotton

Christopher L Winslow

Andrew M Brookhart

Avinash V Sarlashkar

Theodore S Meyer

Raymond J Beale, Jr

A fastener health monitoring system includes a structure including a first component and a second component, one or more fasteners securing the first component to the second component, and an optical fiber arranged adjacent to the one or more fasteners. The fiber is configured to detect strain on the structure from the one or more fasteners. Strain patterns are derivable from sensed data from the optical fiber, and any deviation in strain value greater than a threshold value at a particular fiber position along the optical fiber is indicative of a missing, damaged, or loosened fastener amongst the one or more of fasteners corresponding to that particular fiber position.

Use of fiber optic strain sensors to monitor fastener damage in structures

A method of monitoring usage to determine accumulated component fatigue damage includes evaluating available data for calculating an accumulated component fatigue damage for a component over a pre-determined time frame. The method includes determining at least one available method for calculating the accumulated component fatigue damage based on the available data. The method includes determining the accumulated component fatigue damage for the component using the at least one available method.

Systems and methods for fatigue monitoring

Embodiments are directed to obtaining a first analog signal corresponding to a position error between a commanded gang output of a plurality of electro-mechanical actuators configured to be run in parallel with one another and a measured gang output of the plurality of electro-mechanical actuators, obtaining a second analog signal corresponding to an output torque, and processing, by a circuit, the first analog signal and the second analog signal to generate and output a discrete that indicates a status of the torque in terms of direction and magnitude.

Fly by wire servos with internal loop closure

According to one aspect, a controller, including a processor, sets an initial vibration frequency to be applied to an airframe. The controller commands one or more force generators to apply a vibratory load to the airframe at the initial vibration frequency. The controller determines a vibration response of the airframe at the initial vibration frequency using sensors. The controller sweeps through a range of vibration frequencies to be applied to the airframe. The one or more force generators are commanded to apply a plurality of vibratory loads to the airframe over the range of vibration frequencies. The controller determines a range of vibration responses of the airframe over the range of vibration frequencies using the sensors. A global stiffness of the airframe is determined based on the vibration response and the range of vibration responses. The controller reports results of the determined global stiffness of the airframe.

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Matthew Harrigan