Abstract: A system and method for measuring an amount of backlash in an actuator assembly that includes a housing assembly, an actuator, a drive source, an actuator position sensor, a drive source position sensor, and a controller. The controller is in operable communication with the drive source, the actuator position sensor, and the drive source position sensor, and is configured to selectively implement a built-in test that determines the amount of backlash in the actuator assembly.

Abstract: A system and method for diagnosing load compressor health state for an auxiliary power unit that includes a power compressor, a combustor, a power turbine, and a load compressor is provided. The auxiliary power unit is operated and bleed air is discharged from the load compressor at a bleed air pressure. Using a pressure sensor, the bleed air pressure discharged from the load compressor is sensed and supplied to a processor. In the processor, power compressor health state is diagnosed based solely on the sensed bleed air pressure.

Abstract: A system and method for diagnosing load compressor health state for an auxiliary power unit that includes a power compressor, a combustor, a power turbine, and a load compressor is provided. The auxiliary power unit is operated and bleed air is discharged from the load compressor at a bleed air pressure. Using a pressure sensor, the bleed air pressure discharged from the load compressor is sensed and supplied to a processor. In the processor, power compressor health state is diagnosed based solely on the sensed bleed air pressure.

Abstract: Methods and systems structural health monitoring system for a cyclically loaded structure are provided. The system includes a processor and a memory, and is configured to, in accordance with a data acquisition pattern: acquire raw sensed data from each of the N sensors; convert the raw sensed data into a data packet; store the data packet as a first data packet; acquire raw sensed data from each of the N sensors a second time and store the data packet as a second data packet; identify a scalar deviation between the first data packet and the second data packet; and transmit anomaly information to an external maintenance reasoner when the scalar deviation is determined to exceed a threshold. The data acquisition pattern incorporates a customer specific arrangement of a plurality of piezoelectric (PZT) sensors and sampling the sensors at predetermined angular locations on a circle of rotation associated with the structure.

Abstract: Methods and systems structural health monitoring system for a cyclically loaded structure are provided. The system includes a processor and a memory, and is configured to, in accordance with a data acquisition pattern: acquire raw sensed data from each of the N sensors; convert the raw sensed data into a data packet; store the data packet as a first data packet; acquire raw sensed data from each of the N sensors a second time and store the data packet as a second data packet; identify a scalar deviation between the first data packet and the second data packet; and transmit anomaly information to an external maintenance reasoner when the scalar deviation is determined to exceed a threshold. The data acquisition pattern incorporates a customer specific arrangement of a plurality of piezoelectric (PZT) sensors and sampling the sensors at predetermined angular locations on a circle of rotation associated with the structure.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting damage growth in a structure includes sensing, with a sensor that is coupled to the structure, a physical quantity reflecting damage growth, to thereby generate and supply a sensor signal. Features are extracted from the sensor signal to thereby generate a current feature vector. The current feature vector is assigned to either a previously created cluster or to a new cluster. A stability measure is calculated based on clusters to which the current feature vector and a predetermined number of previous feature vectors are assigned. An alarm is selectively generated based on the calculated stability measure.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting and evaluating structural defects are provided. Baseline data representative of sensed ultrasonic waves that were transmitting into a structure with no defects are stored. Ultrasonic waves are transmitted into the structure from a plurality of actuators that are coupled to the structure. The ultrasonic waves that are transmitted into the structure from the plurality of actuators are sensed, with a plurality of sensors that are coupled to the structure and spaced apart from the actuators, to thereby generate and supply sensor data. Signal difference coefficients are calculated from the baseline data and the sensor data. The calculated signal difference coefficients are spatially mapped to detect one or more structural defects in the structure.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting features in thin-wall structures are provided. A plurality of ultrasonic waves are generated within a thin-wall structure. At least one echo from the plurality of ultrasonic waves within the thin-wall structure is detected. The at least one echo is processed to determine a position of at least one feature in the thin-wall structure based on Embedded Ultrasonic Structure Radar (EUSR) beamforming performed in the frequency domain.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting and evaluating structural defects are provided. Baseline data representative of sensed ultrasonic waves that were transmitting into a structure with no defects are stored. Ultrasonic waves are transmitted into the structure from a plurality of actuators that are coupled to the structure. The ultrasonic waves that are transmitted into the structure from the plurality of actuators are sensed, with a plurality of sensors that are coupled to the structure and spaced apart from the actuators, to thereby generate and supply sensor data. Signal difference coefficients are calculated from the baseline data and the sensor data. The calculated signal difference coefficients are spatially mapped to detect one or more structural defects in the structure.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting features in thin-wall structures are provided. A plurality of ultrasonic waves are generated within a thin-wall structure. At least one echo from the plurality of ultrasonic waves within the thin-wall structure is detected. The at least one echo is processed to determine a position of at least one feature in the thin-wall structure based on Embedded Ultrasonic Structure Radar (EUSR) beamforming performed in the frequency domain.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product is provided for automated defect detection of corrosion or cracks using synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) processed Lamb wave images. The method comprises processing the first image using a synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) to enhance a resolution and a signal to noise ratio of a first extracted ultrasonic image, applying a systemic background noise suppression algorithm to the first extracted ultrasonic image to render a second extracted ultrasonic image having reduced noise, and applying a deconvolution linear filtering process to the second extracted ultrasonic image to render a third extracted ultrasonic image.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product is provided for automated defect detection of corrosion or cracks using synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) processed Lamb wave images. The method comprises processing the first image using a synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) to enhance a resolution and a signal to noise ratio of a first extracted ultrasonic image, applying a systemic background noise suppression algorithm to the first extracted ultrasonic image to render a second extracted ultrasonic image having reduced noise, and applying a deconvolution linear filtering process to the second extracted ultrasonic image to render a third extracted ultrasonic image.