Structural Health Management in the NAVY

Abstract

There is a critical need for integrated system health management (ISHM) approaches to asset maintenance. Ideally, ISHM methodologies would track the system usage and the associated loads, monitor the system degradation and materials state, monitor relevant environmental parameters and their effects on system degradation, detect insipient system damage, diagnose failure mode, predict future system performance, and recommend maintenance actions. Even though there has been considerable progress in many subareas of ISHM over the past years, there is still ample room for future improvements in all technological aspects affecting ISHM. In fact, progress in ISHM has not been uniform. Some subsystems have experienced a far greater degree of development than others. For example, engine and machinery health monitoring and diagnostics, due to its criticality, has evolved at a faster pace than structural health monitoring. This article will review some of the aspects that need to be addressed in order to make structural health monitoring (SHM) of military systems a reality in the near future.