Simulation Study and Degradation Test of Fluid Dampers Equipped with HUMS

This paper presents the simulation and test results of HUMS versus different failure modes performed on a fluid damper, i.e. UH-60 lead-lag damper, to assess its health condition versus simulated degradation. To study the damper performance and the influence of failure modes, the damper behavior was analyzed using hydro-mechanical modeling. Furthermore, a degradation kit was installed on the damper to verify and validate the model predictions. The damper equipped with HUMS, transmits via a RF radio the sensor data to the base computer where the data is post-processed, analyzed, and plotted in a graphical user interface (GUI). Based on the damper performance and pre-defined thresholds, the damper is color flagged as 'Healthy', 'Prepare for Service', or 'Service Time'. The results showed a good correlation between simulation and test measurements regarding both non-degraded and degraded dampers. Moreover, the developed GUI demonstrated the capability to monitor and track the damper health conditions in real time with sub-second delay.