Date of Award

7-7-2020

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.Sc.

Department

Mechanical, Automotive, and Materials Engineering

Supervisor

Jeff Defoe

Supervisor

Beth-Anne Schuelke-Leech

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

The objective of this research is to create a condition monitoring software program that is able to monitor the operating conditions of the components of an open-loop pusher-style wind tunnel. The implementation of the condition monitoring program will play an important role to prevent the most unexpected failures as well as performance degradation in wind tunnel components that result from unusual operating conditions such as high temperature and high vibration. To identify the parameters that need to be monitored using the condition monitoring program, fault tree analysis is used. The study finds that wind tunnel failure happens as a result of motor and fan failure. The most likely failure indicators of motor and fan failure are high temperature and high vibration, respectively. To estimate the probability of wind tunnel failure based on motor temperature and fan vibration, a statistical model is developed using the union rule of probability. Furthermore, using the cumulative distribution function of the Beta distribution, the study defines failure probability functions for the motor and fan in terms of operating temperature and vibration, respectively. The condition monitoring program is implemented in LabView software and this research uses simulated data to demonstrate the functionality of the program. The program can perform real-time motor and fan condition monitoring if data acquisition devices are used that are compatible with the LabView software. The user interface of the LabView program displays motor and fan conditions and provides feedback to the wind tunnel user to make appropriate decisions for operation with high motor temperature and/or fan vibration.

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