Evaluation of Aviation Component Failures due to Corrosion

A Research Project Proposal

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of Course ASCI 490, The Aeronautical Science Capstone Course, for the Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics Degree Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Abstract

The paper details evaluation of aviation components problems and failures due to corrosion and how the researcher will apply the eleven program outcomes (which include but are not limited to critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, information literacy, communication, aviation safety, and aviation management and operation) to establish, develop, and justify the paper. The paper is a guideline for the research on aviation components failures due to corrosion. It introduces corrosion of aviation components under normal working conditions, controls, and an example of an accident caused by corrosion of aviation components. Program outcomes are individually analyzed by their application to the research, data description, and sources definition. The sources expected to be applied in the research include but not limited to journals, web pages, and books. The final product of the research is a well explain research proposal and justification.

Aviation components are the basic units of aircraft made of different materials depending on the function of the part. Most of the components of aviation are metallic (Khanna, 2016). There are many hazards for metallic components, including corrosion or rusting, friction and heat. The researcher has found that corrosion has the highest negative impact on the metallic aviation component (Khanna, 2016). Aluminum is the most suitable material for aviation designing and construction due to its low density, low price, and low susceptibility.

An aircraft in the Netherlands crashed causing loss of lives due to engine disintegration. According to the accident analysis, fractography, a pin attached to a lever in the vane system underwent stress corrosion. Salts were found on the levers and the pin, which indicated the presence of corrosion. The salts reached the space between the pin and the lever, therefore, inducing the stress corrosion cracking (Khanna, 2016). The engine’s materials applied in the design stage were prone to corrosion risking its application. The reasons why the topic is important and significant to the aviation field are as follows. First, it calls for regular monitoring of the aviation components. Second, it indicates the benefits of high-tech components design and finally. Finally, it illustrates the importance of advanced corrosion controls.

The scope of the research establishes the causes, action, and effects of corrosion on metallic aviation components and its correlation to aviation accidents. The paper development follows the structure: the abstract, the introduction of the topic to the readers, the literature review, data gathering, and collecting, analysis of the collected data, evaluation and/ or synthesis, controls of corrosion, takeaways, future research, and recommendations, and sources.

Statement of the Project

The following are the fundamental purpose and benefits of the paper. First and probably the most important, the paper precedes the project which cannot start until the proposal is approved. Second, it indicates the strengths and skill achieved through the eleven program outcomes. Third, it justifies the significance of the research topic and scope. Finally, it indicates corrosion as one of the major causes of aviation components’ depreciation. The “Evaluation of Aviation Components Failure due to Corrosion” project is an individual project for the Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics program. It is a multidiscipline program that has gaps or bridges the previously done research and discoveries with the current courses on human determiners, the safety of aviation, health, and safety of occupations, traffic monitoring and controls, aircraft and equipment maintenance, and aeronautical sciences.

Critical Thinking

“The student will show evidence of knowledge at a synthesis level to define and solve problems within professional and personal environments” (ERAU, 2017, p. 13). Evaluating the failure of aviation components due to corrosion is the process of assessing the effects of corrosion on the performance of aviation components, which is an imperative exercise that has to be implemented in all phases design and operation. There are various forms of corrosion which differ in the degree in which they impact on the aircraft components. Aircraft components are susceptible to corrosion because they are made of metal. Understanding how various forms of corrosion operate on the aviation components is critical and can be extracted from knowledge of the magnitude of harm.

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To assess the failure of aviation components due to corrosion, the information on the various forms of corrosion should be understood (Raj, 2016). This information includes how the corrosion is manifested, how it can be detected, where it is likely to occur on the aircraft components and the effectiveness of mitigation measures in preventing the occurrence. This information will be extracted from journals of engineering. The Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, for instance, has a research paper “Aircraft Crash Caused by Stress Corrosion Cracking”. By understanding how the crash occurred, one can access the failure of aviation components due to stress corrosion cracking. Another important source is the Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention.

Quantitative Reasoning

“The student will show evidence of the use of digitally-enabled technology & analysis techniques to interpret data for the purpose of drawing valid conclusions and solving associated problems” (ERAU, 2017, p. 14). Quantitative measurements of corrosion effects are necessary in order to understand, predict, and model the phenomenon of corrosion and subsequently prevent its occurrence.

This involves analyzing the relationship between corrosion rate and the various parameters that govern the process of corrosion, (FAA, 2012). The knowledge extracted is useful in estimating the resistivity of the aircraft’s components to corrosion and hence their susceptibility to failure due to corrosion. In order to achieve this, the relationship between corrosion rates of the various forms of corrosion, the volume of samples used, environmental conditions, a period of time taken and the temperature among other variables has to be assessed (Prasad & Wanhill, 2017).

Information literacy

“The student will show evidence of meaningful research, including gathering information from primary and secondary sources and incorporating and documenting source material in their writing” (ERAU, 2017, p. 15). There has been a meaningful research on the failure of aircraft components due to corrosion and several research papers have been published indicating the problem. Reviewing relevant research papers is imperative because this guarantees the viability of the information to the project ensuring insights gained and valid to the project. Relevant research also supports the conclusions and recommendations related to the project. Though a significant number of research papers exist, it is necessary that these articles conform and are valid to the project (DeRose, 2013). Information provided will be a result of scientific analysis and evaluation and not a result of randomly gathered data. It will be properly cited, verified, and cited. The information will be acquired from scientific books and journals. The journal Materials and Corrosion provide relevant information through research papers. An example of the research paper is the “Quantitative measurements of corrosion rate”.

To achieve this, correct use of APA guidelines is mandatory. This means proper referencing of the information, appropriate in-text citations, use of correct grammar, and appropriate flow with a logical sequence (Khanna, 2016). For this to be successfully incorporated, a good understanding of the American Psychological Association standards and guidelines is critical all the way. It is also necessary to gain a good understanding of the most efficient ways of communication and organization that will successfully deliver the outcomes of the project to the planned audience.

Communication

“The student will show evidence of communicating concepts in written, digital, and oral forms to present technical and non-technical information” (ERAU, 2017, p. 4). The project will present reliable and valid information on the assessment of aircraft failures in relation to corrosion. The information will agree with the analysis, the conclusions, and viable recommendations. These findings, conclusions, and recommendations from the project will be demonstrated in an articulate manner. This will be an integration of various ways of presentations that could vary from verbal presentations, PowerPoint presentations, and individual presentations with the instructor, depending on the most relevant way to the audience.

Scientific Literacy

“The student will show evidence of analyzing scientific evidence as it relates to the physical world and its interrelationship with human values and interests” (ERAU, 2017, p. 18). The project will apply scientific literacy by analyzing information and coming up with relevant scientific conclusions and recommendations. It will be achieved by analyzing relationships between the various variables, for instance, analyzing the relationship between corrosion rate and the various parameters that govern the process of corrosion as indicated above.

Useful information to support scientific literacy includes mechanical properties of aviation components and chemical reactions that occur during corrosion. This is also inclusive of the variables that are involved in the whole process, such as temperature (Khanna, 2016). Scientific literacy also involves the evaluation of aircraft component and their functioning. Scientific literacy, analysis of information, and the development of conclusions and recommendations ensure the project remains valid with reliable material. To achieve this information, principles from various disciplines must be incorporated. These disciplines are mechanics, physics, and chemistry. Information from aeronautical science, mechanical and electrical components has to be analyzed.

Cultural Literacy

“The student will show evidence of the analysis of historic events, cultural artifacts, and Philosophical concepts” (ERAU, 2017, p. 19). The analysis knowledge and understanding of historical events and artifacts is crucial to the project. This will be demonstrated through the association of historical events, aviation and safety cultures. The evaluation of trends provides insight on how such perspectives impact the project. For instance, mitigation procedures used against corrosion is one of the trends used in the past.

Information involving cultural literacy is the one associated with trends, such as applications and trends in aviation safety. This ensures that the analysis, conclusions, and recommendations from the project agree with reliable past occurrences. To understand this, the researcher will investigate some of the accidents and incidents that have arisen due to structural failures as a result of corrosion. Many of the aircraft accidents that have occurred as a result of failed corroded components have information of their occurrence in public. They include the failure of the Aloha Airline Flight 243 in 11-28 1988 as a result of corrosion and fatigue.

Lifelong Personal Growth

“The student will show evidence of the skills needed to enrich the quality of life through activities which enhance and promote lifetime learning” (ERAU, 2017, p. 20). Professional responsibility coupled with experience and acquired skill is necessary for the successful completion of the project. Skills acquired, abilities, and critiquing experience will support the analysis, conclusions, and recommendations from the project ensuring the validity of the project. It is imperative to use personal experiences in the evaluation of research materials from different sources. A good critiquing experience provides a useful way of advancing findings from the project.

Aviation/Aerospace/Aeronautical Science

“The student will show evidence of advanced concepts of aviation, aerospace, and aeronautics to solve problems commonly found in their respective industries” (ERAU, 2017, p. 22). The project will agree to concepts and principles of aeronautical sciences. This includes all aspects of aerospace ranging from physics of flight, aircraft simulation, and aviation safety. The above-listed factors among others will help in the evaluation of aircraft component failures due to corrosion. This guarantees that the results, conclusions, and recommendations from the project are in line with all the aspects of aviation. To ensure that the project is in agreement with the issues of aeronautical sciences, the concepts required in this field will be applied to the project, and factors that arise from the same evaluation. All procedures and principles in the project will agree with aeronautical sciences.

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Aviation Legislation and Law

“The student will show evidence of basic concepts in aviation safety as they pertain to the Aviation, aerospace, aeronautics industry” (ERAU, 2017, p. 23). It is imperative that the project is aligned with all the aviation legislation and laws. This law ranges from local, federal, and international laws and deals with matters such as safety, aviation facility development, flight, and maintenance operation and safety. These laws are relevant to the project and the findings, and recommendations from the project will align with these laws to avoid conflict. Where these laws do not serve the purpose, new laws will be recommended or amendments to the existing legislation proposed as they relate to the project. Aviation laws are provided for and published in the Special Federal Aviation Regulations (SFAR). These laws are federal laws and are regulated at that level.

Aviation Safety

“The student will show evidence of basic concepts in aviation safety as they pertain to the Aviation, aerospace, aeronautics industry” (ERAU, 2017, p. 24). The project will meet all aviation safety requirements. These include security measures, techniques, concepts, and procedures. Various concepts will be introduced especially in developing recommendations that are safe and secure to prevent aircraft failure due to corrosion. Information on aviation safety from federal regulators and various academic research papers is critical.

Aviation Management and Operations

“The student will show evidence of sound, ethical management principles within standard Aviation, aerospace, and aeronautics operations” (ERAU, 2017, p. 24). The project will agree with all concepts, techniques, and procedures in aviation management operations. It is necessary that the different ways in which maintenance operations of airfields and airlines are conducted be assessed as they contribute to the project by providing relevant information. This will be incorporated into the evaluation of different ways in which poor management and aviation operation contribute to the relation between corrosion and aircraft failure (DeRose, 2013). This will provide useful information that agrees with the best management operations. These management operations can be acquired from valid research and will ensure findings from the project meet the requirements of aviation management and operations.

Conclusion

There are eleven program outcomes addressed in the research proposal. Most of the program outcomes relate to one another in the research. The researcher expects to apply critical thinking skills to solve any emerging problems during the public establishment in both personal and environmental situations. The researcher will apply technological tools for the analysis such as Microsoft Excel and SAS. The researcher will ensure to cover corrosion extensively and its effects on aviation components’ failures. The researcher communicates the project effectively: visually, orally, and digitally. The researcher will apply scientific proves of corrosion on aviation components and the correlation with their failures. The research will involve historical data and proves that justify the topic. The research will involve and include corrosion threats on advanced components of aviation such as high-power engines. The project will be within the federal state and will be flexible to adjust. The researcher will demonstrate ethical management and safety skills.