Reliability Data for Fluidic Systems.
Abstract
An investigation of fluidic technology has been conducted. The initial program activities involved collecting and documenting data from early experimental applications of AiResearch fluidic controls. An analysis of the failures experienced during laboratory and experimental testing revealed that the failure mode of greatest concern, fluidic circuit contamination, did not represent a serious obstacle to seeking operational applications for fluidic controls. Several production programs involving fluidic components were also studied and analyzed. These included the thrust reverser actuator on the General Electric CF6 engine for the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 airplane and for the European A.300B Airbus, the Lockheed S-3A ram air pressure regulator, the thrust reverser and secondary nozzle actuator for the BAC/Aerospatiale Concorde SST aircraft, and two pressure regulators on the Boeing E-3A (AWACS) aircraft. Of these applications, data from the thrust reverser actuator on the General Electric CF6 engine for the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft greatly overshadowed the remainder of the information. At the time of preparation of this report, these data showed a fluidic module reliability in excess of 600,000 hours MTBF, based on over 5,425,000 component operating hours in normal airline usage.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 07, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA035724
Entities
People
- Harry R. Gamble
- Wallis T. Fleming