Structure-Life Management: A Survey of Programs in the US Navy, the Canadian Forces, and the US Air Force

摘要

Since 1958, the Air Force has relied on its Aircraft Structural Integrity Program (ASIP) to achieve structural safety of its aircraft. The ASIP's overarching objective is to prevent structural failures cost effectively and without the loss of mission capability. The ASIP provides a framework for establishing and sustaining structural integrity throughout the aircraft's life. During the acquisition phase, ASIP activities involve design, analysis, and tests to ensure that the aircraft structure is adequate to operate as intended. During the sustainment phase, the ASIP activities involve data collection, analysis, and tests needed to continually plan the sustainment activities such as maintenance and modifications to ensure that the structure remains safe until retirement. These activities provide information about structural conditions that can be used to help in fleet management decisions. As such, the ASIP is a key contributor to the Air Force's Force Management processes.