Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 13 of 13

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

3d Printing For Solving Part Obscolescence, Ayman G. Alqarni Sep 2020

3d Printing For Solving Part Obscolescence, Ayman G. Alqarni

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to highlight the issue of parts obsolescence and to highlight the possibility of using alternative methods to overcome parts shortage. Specifically, this thesis sought to answer the research question: is the three-dimensional printing technology (3D) an applicable approach to overcome part obsolescence. The research question was answered through data research and survey analysis. Notwithstanding, the diminished manufacturing sources and material shortages (DMSMS) management and other existing approaches, such as forecasting, contracting, and reverse engineering (RE), were discussed briefly in the literature review and profoundly in chapter IV to differentiate among applicable existing solutions toward …


The Impacts Of Using Augmented Reality To Support Aircraft Maintenance, Terry R. Hebert Jr. Mar 2019

The Impacts Of Using Augmented Reality To Support Aircraft Maintenance, Terry R. Hebert Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force (USAF) expends significant resources to address the rise in aviation mishaps derived from an overworked, understaffed maintenance community, and high operational environment. Currently, paper-based technical orders (T.O.) are utilized by maintainers to accomplish aircraft inspections, servicing, and maintenance tasks. As technology advances, many civilian agencies have begun to leverage augmented reality (AR) to improve organizational proficiency. This research seeks to identify if the inclusion of AR within aircraft maintenance will positively or negatively affect maintenance task accuracy and completion time. A single variable randomized complete block design (RCBD), within-subject design of experiment (DOE) asses the …


Examining The Drivers Of C-130j Maintenance Requirements Through Multiple Regression Analysis, Andrew V. Gill Mar 2019

Examining The Drivers Of C-130j Maintenance Requirements Through Multiple Regression Analysis, Andrew V. Gill

Theses and Dissertations

As a result of increasing system complexity and cost, new aircraft acquisition, upgrade and repair timelines continue to lengthen. As a result, aircraft are kept in service longer than originally intended. Therefore, age-related wear continues to play a large part in determining mission-capable status, and therefore, aircraft availability (AA) rates. Combined with decreasing fleet sizes and manpower resource pools, each aircraft declared not mission capable (NMC) exerts an out-sized influence upon fleet AA rates. This research used multiple regression analysis to identify and quantify the effects of age, Major Command (MAJCOM) and operating location ambient weather on unscheduled not mission …


Characterization Of Graphite Composite Material Particulates From Usaf Aircraft Maintenance Operations, Richard E. Yon Mar 2011

Characterization Of Graphite Composite Material Particulates From Usaf Aircraft Maintenance Operations, Richard E. Yon

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the benefits of their material properties, advanced composite materials (ACM) are increasingly being used as structural components on aircraft, especially within the United States Air Force. As a result, the potential exists for occupational exposures to structural maintenance employees while repairing and fabricating aircraft components. Two field studies were conducted for this thesis in order to characterize ACM aerosol size distribution, determine the feasibility of utilizing direct reading instruments (DRIs) in the field, and ensure workers are protected with adequate controls. In order to characterize exposure, traditional integrated air sampling and DRIs were positioned together near an ACM …


Depot-Level Simulation And Multivariate Analysis On B-1 High Velocity Maintenance, Florence K. Yee Mar 2011

Depot-Level Simulation And Multivariate Analysis On B-1 High Velocity Maintenance, Florence K. Yee

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis is to gain insights on the B-1B depot maintenance operations, with a focus on direct maintenance hours or burn rate, under the implementation of High Velocity Maintenance (HVM). Based on historical depot maintenance data and the current B-1 depot HVM prototype data, a discrete-event simulation model is developed using Arena 12.0. Some United States Air Force supply chain influences, such as manning levels and kitting characteristics of the B-1 depot operations, are incorporated in our models as design factors. The model captures the stochastic nature of 30 HVM tasks performed on one B-1 aircraft in …


A Simulation Based Methodology To Examine The B-1b'S An/Alq-161 Maintenance Process, Ricardo R. Garza Mar 2010

A Simulation Based Methodology To Examine The B-1b'S An/Alq-161 Maintenance Process, Ricardo R. Garza

Theses and Dissertations

The B-1 Bomber is the Air Force’s only supersonic, conventional-only strike platform. This thesis looks at the maintenance procedures associated with the defensive electronic counter measure (ECM) system on the B-1B, designated the AN/ALQ-161. Computer simulation of the current line-replaceable-unit maintenance network for Ellsworth AFB and Dyess AFB is modeled. In addition, two hypothetical repair networks are proposed and analyzed. This research considers the applicability of this type of computer simulation, using ARENA software to study the AN/ALQ-161 repair system. The contribution of this research is a discrete simulation methodology specific to the AN/ALQ-161 LRU repair line. Two response variables …


Evaluation Of Air Force Aircraft Maintenance Metrics For Integration Into The Expeditionary Combat Support System, Brian D. Waller Mar 2009

Evaluation Of Air Force Aircraft Maintenance Metrics For Integration Into The Expeditionary Combat Support System, Brian D. Waller

Theses and Dissertations

All organizations face the continuous challenge of a dynamic and ever-changing operations environment. They must adapt to new paradigms quickly or end up on the road to obsolescence. Never has this been truer for the U.S. Air Force than in the 21st century. The logistics organization of the Air Force supports a worldwide, 24/7 operation, executing the national directive of US Policy. Past logistics operation policies have now been proven to no longer be sufficient to meet the needs of the war-fighter. Shrinking budgets, aging equipment, and the austere, disparate operating locations demand sweeping changes in how the logistic machine …


Simulation Modeling Of The C-5 Galaxy High Velocity Regionalized Isochronal (Hvriso) Inspection Concept, Theodore K. Heiman Mar 2009

Simulation Modeling Of The C-5 Galaxy High Velocity Regionalized Isochronal (Hvriso) Inspection Concept, Theodore K. Heiman

Theses and Dissertations

Faced with eroding budgets, Air Mobility Command (AMC) is confronted with implementing simultaneous changes to its isochronal (ISO) inspection process for C-5 aircraft. C-5 inspection criteria will use a Maintenance Steering Group-3 (MSG-3) approach beginning in October, 2009. MSG-3 has been used successfully in civilian aviation since 1980 and AMC hopes to produce similar results. AMC is also consolidating the four docks presently in use to three high-velocity regionalized isochronal (HVRISO) docks. Centralized scheduling by AMC should utilize a dock selection method that minimizes both processing time and queue time when arriving aircraft cannot be immediately inducted into the servicing …


Assessing Structural Health Monitoring Alternatives Utilizing A Value-Focused Thinking Model, Margaret A. Barker, Fatih S. Gurbuz, Jeremy A. Schroeder Mar 2009

Assessing Structural Health Monitoring Alternatives Utilizing A Value-Focused Thinking Model, Margaret A. Barker, Fatih S. Gurbuz, Jeremy A. Schroeder

Theses and Dissertations

Current Air Force operations are undergoing significant changes necessitated by increasing fiscal constraints, increasing aircraft age, and recent drawdown in personnel to perform maintenance, repair, and other necessary functions. In order to deal with these challenges, the Air Force must effectively improve current operations. This paper explores potential structural health monitoring (SHM) solutions to some of the challenges facing aircraft maintenance and repair operations. As with any problem, a variety of solutions exist and this paper explores the potential solutions and limitations of various options. Aircraft SHM is an intriguing concept with potential capability to revolutionize current Air Force maintenance …


Modernizing A Preventive Maintenance Strategy For Facility And Infrastructure Maintenance, Ross E. Dotzlaf Mar 2009

Modernizing A Preventive Maintenance Strategy For Facility And Infrastructure Maintenance, Ross E. Dotzlaf

Theses and Dissertations

Preventive maintenance (PM) is defined as regularly scheduled maintenance actions based on average failure rates. A properly implemented PM strategy can provide many benefits to an organization in terms of extending equipment life, optimizing resource expenditures, and balancing work schedules. Periodic evaluation of a PM strategy can help identify ways to improve efficiencies and maximize effectiveness. This research effort was accomplished by performing a case study of the United States Air Force’s infrastructure and facility PM program known as the Recurring Work Program (RWP). The methodology consisted of two phases. The first phase, intended to develop an understanding of the …


Improving Maintenance Data Collection Via Point-Of-Maintenance (Pomx) Implementation, William D. Cone Mar 2006

Improving Maintenance Data Collection Via Point-Of-Maintenance (Pomx) Implementation, William D. Cone

Theses and Dissertations

Maintenance data collection is an integral part of flightline aircraft maintenance. Historically, this data was input via traditional keyboard data entry methods at a computer terminal. These terminals are typically located in the aircraft maintenance unit (AMU) facility, away from where the actual maintenance is being performed. In contrast to the traditional approach, the Point-of-Maintenance system (POMX) seeks to reduce the data entry burden while increasing data accuracy through the use of E-Tools such as ruggedized laptop computers and handheld portable maintenance aids (PMAs). POMX enables data entry at the aircraft or other maintenance location via wireless local area network …


The Effects Of Three Media Presentation Systems On Maintenance Task Performance, John W. Chastain Sep 1998

The Effects Of Three Media Presentation Systems On Maintenance Task Performance, John W. Chastain

Theses and Dissertations

Wearable computers and Portable Maintenance Aids (PMAs) may soon be the normal way of doing aircraft maintenance in the Air Force. Currently, the Air Force uses the paper form of Technical Orders (TO's) while doing aircraft maintenance. The purpose of this thesis was to compare the effects of three different media presentations of the information used during aircraft maintenance. The three different presentations compared are the current paper form, a Head Mounted Display (HMD), and an auditory mode. An experiment was conducted to determine if there was a significant difference between the systems (in terms of task completion times and …


Reducing Cannon Plug Connector Pin Selection Time And Errors Through Enhanced Data Presentation Methods, Robert R. Webb Sep 1997

Reducing Cannon Plug Connector Pin Selection Time And Errors Through Enhanced Data Presentation Methods, Robert R. Webb

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of data presentation methods on technician performance when the procedures are presented on a monocular, head mounted display (HMD) in a static maintenance environment. This research used two different methods to present the maintenance task data to the technicians. The first method showed the task as it is typically described in standard technical manuals. It described the task to perform and provided a basic picture of the cannon plug to be tested (unenhanced). The second method provided the same information as the first, but it also modified the information by …