High-fidelity modeling of degraded rod-end for flight control actuators - analysis and preliminary PHM study

Rod-ends are critical components for flight control systems, thus a high-fidelity rod-end model has been developed for prognostic and health management applications. The rod-end has been modelled as a dynamically loaded journal bearing. Three different work conditions are taken under consideration: •??hydrodynamic lubrication conditions, when the journal is completely divided from the bearing by a lubricant meatus; •??contact conditions, when the journal and bearing surfaces are squeezed on each other; •??mixed conditions, when the system works between the previous two. The implementation of the rod-end on the EHSA model complete is performed to validate the model and for the preliminary PHM study.