Integrated Hybrid Structural Management System (IHSMS) - Usage and Loads Monitoring

The overarching objective of the Integrated Hybrid Structural Management System (IHSMS) program is to mature key capabilities, which support eventual implementation of a holistic on-condition or reliability-based maintenance paradigm for rotorcraft. As one of the constituent elements of the IHSMS program, development of Usage and Loads Monitoring (ULM) technologies is achieved through refinement and testing/evaluation of a suite of physical sensors and model-based technologies. This paper describes the IHSMS ULM architecture, and explores the efforts to develop and test two prototype physical sensor systems for the Sikorsky CH-53K aircraft: a smart main rotor elastomeric bearing and a landing gear load monitoring system. Validation test results for each of these technologies are discussed, with successes and remaining challenges highlighted for each system. ULM technology validation efforts, including those for the two physical sensor systems discussed herein, were largely successful with most features of each technology meeting or exceeding the corresponding technical performance goals. As such, the path for transition of these technologies remains positive, with the ground work already being laid for follow-on maturation efforts.