Abrasive wear based predictive maintenance for systems operating in sandy conditions

摘要

Machines operating in sandy environments are damaged by the abrasive action of sand particles that enter the machine and become entrapped between components and contacting surfaces. In the case of the military services the combination of a sandy environment and the wide range of tasks to be fulfilled results in extreme and uncertain operating conditions. All of this hinders the ability to establish efficient maintenance strategies prior to deployment and increases the risk of mechanical failure. To prevent such problems, it would be desirable to perform maintenance based on the prevailing condition of both the components and the environment. By monitoring the loading situation as well as the characteristics of the sand particles, the wear of components is quantified, allowing maintenance to be performed when necessary.