Holistic Life Management of Damage Tolerant Airframes

Advancements in Damage Tolerant Airframe Structures in combination with Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) have created an opportunity to exploit the synergies in these technologies to change the paradigm for Airframe Life Management for future Aircraft. In the last decade or more, Sikorsky has validated multiple production helicopter Airframes using Damage and Flaw Tolerant certification requirements. The experience of the authors of this paper contributed to the recent joint services and industry development of the Rotorcraft Structural Integrity Program (RSIP as specified in MIL-STD-3063) for design of future military rotorcraft. In addition, Sikorsky has also developed a range of technologies relevant to SHM to reduce over-inspection and maintenance to drive increased operational availability. Combined, these developments will allow new Airframe designs to meet the US Army's new requirements for Maintenance Free Operational Periods (MFOP), for example 200 flight hours for the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) rotorcraft.