Navy contracts VEXTEC to predict actual mission effects on critical parts

Under the terms of this contract, VEXTEC will expand on prior funded DoD technology efforts to show that mission sequence effects can be simulated and predicted for helicopter gearbox systems. VEXTEC’s gearbox life simulator will employ a high fidelity material-based fatigue modeling approach to facilitate the evaluation of different mission scenarios. Using this technology means durability results of different live mission sequences will be simulated in minutes, whereas traditional physical prototype testing would take years to reproduce even a small fraction of them.

The ability to simulate durability based on actual vs. theoretical mission profiles will allow the Navy to fine-tune maintenance schedules based on more accurate lifing predictions. More accurate maintenance schedules produces benefits across the board from reduced costs to improved component supply management and increased aircraft readiness. But most importantly, it reduces the risk of failures in the field.

“We’re very pleased to be able to apply our technology to a problem whose solution holds so many important benefits for the Navy, and the aerospace
industry in general,” commented Dr. Robert Tryon, VEXTEC Founder and Chief Technology Officer. “Getting these important answers now, instead of years from
now, will save time, money and lives.”

VEXTEC has already developed a system-level durability simulation approach for Army land vehicles, and this Navy project will show that the company’s powerful
computational framework can be modified to analyze a multiple component helicopter gearbox system.

About VEXTEC

VEXTEC is the only company in the world that can accurately predict the performance, durability and true lifetime cost of a single component or an entire fleet—even before they’re ever built. Founded in 2000, VEXTEC has pioneered and patented innovations in material science and probability theory to form the foundation of its Virtual Life Management (VLM) technology. Manufacturing companies from such diverse industries as aerospace, heavy equipment, automotive, electronics and medical implants can all benefit from VEXTEC’s unique ability to predict product life cycles and failure, and most importantly, their financial consequences. To learn more, visit www.vextec.com.