RISK-BASED DESIGN AND MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A method for determining an optimal inspection schedule for a structure, said method comprising:
- determining a crack size distribution table for the structure;
determining a plurality of risk values, each risk value for a different estimated usage hours of the structure and based on said crack size distribution table;
estimating a first inspection interval based on a predetermined risk value threshold; and
determining a second inspection interval based on analyzing the rate of increase of risk value and probability of detection of a crack in said first inspection interval.
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Abstract
A method for determining an optimal inspection schedule for a structure is described. The method includes determining a crack size distribution table for the structure, determining a plurality of risk values, each risk value for a different estimated usage hours of the structure and based on said crack size distribution table, estimating a first inspection interval based on a predetermined risk value threshold, and determining a second inspection interval based on analyzing the rate of increase of risk value and probability of detection of a crack in said first inspection interval.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for determining an optimal inspection schedule for a structure, said method comprising:
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determining a crack size distribution table for the structure; determining a plurality of risk values, each risk value for a different estimated usage hours of the structure and based on said crack size distribution table; estimating a first inspection interval based on a predetermined risk value threshold; and determining a second inspection interval based on analyzing the rate of increase of risk value and probability of detection of a crack in said first inspection interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer programmed to assess risk associated with a structural inspection schedule for a flight platform, said computer programmed to:
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utilize input data to evaluate a probability of fracture risk at the current accumulated hours of usage, and the probability of fracture risks for the current accumulated hours of usage plus or minus a range of usages; verify, over the usage range, that the probability of fracture risks increases monotonically; determine a risk associated with postponing, for a period of time, the inspection described by a structural maintenance plan, the determined risk based on a period of postponement that corresponds with the probability of fracture risk for a specific level of usage; evaluate if the determined risk is less than a risk requirement defined in the structural maintenance plan; and estimate the hours of usage for the flight platform until the first inspection, which is when the risk is substantially close to the risk requirement. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for assessing a risk associated with a structural inspection schedule for a flight platform, said method comprising:
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evaluating, based on input data, a probability of fracture risk at the current accumulated hours of usage, and the probability of fracture risks for the current accumulated hours plus or minus a range of usage hours. verifying, over the range of usage hours, that the probability of fracture risks increases monotonically; determining a risk associated with postponing, for a period of time, the inspection described by a structural maintenance plan, the determined risk based on a period of postponement that corresponds with the probability of fracture risk for a specific usage hour; evaluating if the determined risk is less than a risk requirement defined in the structural maintenance plan; and estimating the hours of usage for the flight platform until the first inspection is needed, which is when the risk is substantially close to the risk requirement. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification