Improved Method for Determining the Remaining Useful Life of a Component

High value asset vehicles, or vehicles where safety/operational readiness is important, can greatly benefit from an accurate remaining useful life (RUL) estimate. For these assets, RUL allows operators to realize revenue because of improved availability. This paper uses an improved hybrid, high cycle fracture mechanics model to more accurately estimate the RUL. The hybrid method’s performance is validated using trendability and monotonicity against two existing models using a real-world data set. The improved model allows a longer time period to marshal the resources needed for repair or give operations personnel an extended window to bring other assets to cover missions that would otherwise be unavailable.