Anticipatory Adaptive Control of Inspection Planning Process in Service of Fatigued Aircraft Structures

In this paper, a control theory is used for planning inspections in service of fatigue-sensitive aircraft structure components under crack propagation. One of the most important features of control theory is its great generality, enabling one to analyze diverse systems within one unified framework. A key idea, which has emerged from this study, is the necessity of viewing the process of planning in-service inspections as an adaptive control process. Adaptation means the ability of self-modification and self-adjustment in accordance with varying conditions of environment. The adaptive control of inspection planning process in service of fatigued aircraft structures differs from ordinary stochastic control of inspection planning process in that it attempts to reevaluate itself in the light of uncertainties in service of aircraft structures as they unfold and change. Thus, a catastrophic accident during flight can be avoided.