Environmental Degradation and Fatigue in Aircraft Structures: The Relationship Between Environmental Duty and Component Life

A University Research Initiative, the objective of which was to develop a methodology for the detection, evaluation, and quantification of the effect of environmental degradation on the life of aircraft components. The program combined laboratory based methodology with field observations and data to develop predictive methodology for the initiation and propagation of localized corrosion damage. The focus of the program was in four major areas: (1) Non-destructive evaluation of environmental degradation, (2) Environmental degradation of structural materials, (3) High temperature environmental degradation of advanced engine materials, and (4) Predictive model development.