Abstract:
Challenges in maintenance systems can pose multi-faceted problems, which are difficult
to resolve alone. Over a four year period, a partnership evolved a vision for tackling the
understanding of fundamentally difficult mechanical failures and their detection, with
potential for practical exploitation of the solutions. The partnership assembled a team of
researchers and far-sighted project management, to undertake a study of gearbox
failures, including finite element modelling, gear testing, and signal analysis. The
partnership trained a series of doctoral and postdoctoral staff in running an integrated
project, coping with changes in staffing and locations. The final stages of the work will
validate the models and signal processing.