Optimizing Prognostic and Health Management System Designs for the Joint Strike Fighter

"The proposed program is focused specifically on developing and optimizing advanced Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) system designs for various Joint Strike Fighter aircraft systems and subsystems. A PHM design optimization tool developed under aseparate program will be utilized to examine several selected JSF aircraft areas including the propulsion system (Fan/Compressor/Turbine, Engine Lube Oil or Fuel System), secondary power system (APU or PTO/AMAD) and the environmental control system (ECS).The effort will specifically develop "lower level", detailed system simulation models for assessing sensor type/placement issues, as well as "higher level" system integration models to examine system inter-dependencies and failure mode propagation effects.The tool will allow a design team to assess PHM system configurations based on a cost function that accurately represents key life cycle cost variables such as system availability, maintainability, reliability, failure mode interactions, etc. Based on thedevelopment of these optimal PHM system designs early in the EMD phase, costly redesigns in later phases can be avoided. Pratt and Whitney and Honeywell Engines and Systems have expressed interest in this program and are expected to provide appropriatedesign and legacy system information required to build the PHM models proposed.BENEFITS: Optimizing PHM system designs for critical areas of the JSF aircraft will allow for more autono