Assesment on on-wing engine health based on non linear dynamic engine behaviour

This work will focus on the development and validation of the novel:

-nonlinear higher order spectra and novel nonlinear detection analytical methods to determine the relationship between the developed higher order spectra and structural damage/deterioration, including for blade crack detection

-vibration diagnosis/predictive technology allowed damage diagnosis, esttimation of the remaining useful life and damage severity quantification based on the determined relationship and trending of the higher order spectra.

The main beneficiary is Rolls-Royce; other beneficiaries are manufacturers, repairers, maintenance teams and end-users of rotating machinery in the UK and worldwide, including Cranfield's existing and potential industrial collaborators: Dresser Rand, EON (UK), Scottish Energy, SKF, London Underground, Siemens, Shell, Severn Trent Water, Vertical Wind (Sweden), Vestas (UK), Doosan Babcock, ERIKS (UK), Boeing (USA), BAE Systems, Meggitt and United Utilities. The general UK, EU and worldwide public will also benefit from the project due to environmental and social benefits and quality of life improvements. The proposed research will benefit academics via significant advances in understanding of predictive methods for machinery.

The project results will be incorporated into the Rolls-Royce (RR) Engine Monitoring units. The value will be realised through the maintenance service for engines.
The predictive ability will deliver efficiencies to engine overhauls. This would reduce the environmental impact of the overhaul facilities and the number of additional engines required to support the airlines. The major impact for RR and other turbine manufacturers is the new capability of early diagnosis/prediction. The economic
impacts include improvement in: (i) use of engine components/systems (ii) maintenance costs (iii) engine performance, durability, reliability and downtime prevention (iv) productivity (v) manufacturing and operating costs (vi) engine sales. The technology is almost universally applicable to most of rotating machines and could be applied for structural monitoring (e.g. buildings, bridges, etc.), process and manufacturing (food or materials, etc.), power generation, oil and gas and transportation industries.
Environmental and social benefits and quality of life improvements include (i) improving health/safety of machinery inspections (ii) increasing safety of ground/water transportation (iii) preventing hazards and the release of toxic residues at nuclear power stations (iv) ensuring continuous energy production from landfill gas and renewable sources of energy (v) reducing automotive vehicle emissions (CO2, etc.); (vi) preventing annually about 500 pollution incidents at wastewater plants (vii) reducing the scrap rate (viii) ensuring continuous waste reduction by production of water from sewage and energy from waste, providing also energy recovery (ix) improving sustainability of UK rivers and coastline and, therefore, impacting social inclusion (x) preventing hazardous oil content in water, ensuring the delivery of safe water to the UK (xi) preventing environmental problems in offshore pipelines and oil rigs (xii) providing reliable cogeneration with 25% reduction of primary energy use, CO2 and SOx emissions and carbon.

The medical industry will benefit in patient care as a result of improved monitoring and equipment availability. The exploitation of the sensing system will occur in several phases, covering initial exploitation, UK and European expansion and global expansion.
Informal discussions have already taken place with a number of airworthiness and regulatory authorities (EASA, FAA, etc.) to make them aware of this proposed project. Continuing these discussions is essential to enable them to evolve their understanding and processes in line with the technology being developed. Airworthiness and regulatory authorities will be kept updated at regular 6 month intervals of the status of the project by members of the consortium. The EHM and VHM community will be kept informed through the Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) that members of the consortium are
members of and SIMONET network.
Dissemination to the public and other stakeholders will be maximised by developing

-articles in academic journals and relevant commercial publications
-presentations at EC and worldwide conferences, exhibitions and trade shows
-press releases
-case studies
-workshops and seminars