Funding for physics-based bearing life models for rotorcraft engine and drive system applications
Buffalo, New York – June 30, 2021 – Sentient Science Corporation, a leading developer of physics-based modeling solutions for digital twin applications, has been selected for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II program award by the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC).
The objective of the program is to “develop a standalone software package that can: (1) generate a physics based rolling contact fatigue model which accurately predicts both subsurface and surface initiated failure modes, and (2) accurately predicts rotorcraft engine and drive system rolling element bearing life and durability based upon the generated model.”
Sentient’s proposal, titled “Physics-Based Modeling of Rolling/Sliding Contact Fatigue Life”, leverages the company’s patented DigitalClone® modeling methodology and was competitively selected for the $1.1M award. As a result of this decision, the Option to the original Phase I project will be exercised by the government and negotiations for the Phase II contract will be cleared to proceed.
“We pride ourselves on the capabilities of our team and our DigitalClone technology to meet the needs of sophisticated customers eager to fully explore the potential of digital twin solutions, and we are grateful for this chance to support Army Aviation and the future fleet,” said Jason Rios, SVP Aerospace.
About DigitalClone
DigitalClone is a physics-based computational modeling and design framework that simulates the microstructure of different components and their behavior. It calculates internal stresses caused by different applied loading conditions, accumulates internal damages resulting in crack nucleation and propagation, and investigates the performance and life prediction. DigitalClone-AM accounts for various AM process parameters – such as laser power, scan speed, hatch strategy, layer thickness, and others – to generate highly accurate predictions of part-level distortion, residual stress, grain structure, and porosity. Sentient’s AM expertise include process and microstructure modeling of the AM build process, microstructure-based life prediction of AM components, in-process defect monitoring and correction, reliability-centered part design and optimization, and lifecycle cost analysis. Sentient’s AM fatigue life prediction capability has been demonstrated for several materials and components with high accuracy. Since 2015, Sentient Science has received a total of $5.6M in funding from the US DoD and NASA to continue to expand the company’s additive manufacturing capabilities.
About Sentient Science
Sentient Science’s DigitalClone® software applies materials science and physics-based modeling to predict wear and fatigue damage of in the microstructure of critical components and major systems of helicopter drivetrains and rotating mechanical equipment. DigitalClone provides prognostic solutions impacting design, manufacturing, operations, sustainment, supply chain management, and many other aspects of the lifecycle of critical rotorcraft components. Sentient Science received the 2014 Tibbets Award at the White House for the role they played in research and development for the Government and for success in driving innovation into the industrial and energy marketplace, the Bloomberg New Energy Finance Pioneers Award in 2016 for commercialization of the DigitalClone software for life extension of wind turbines and Excellence in Wind Prognostics by Frost & Sullivan in 2017 and the 2020 Top Aviation Solution Providers by Aerospace & Defense Review.
For more information, please visit sentientscience.com or email contact@sentientscience.com
DigitalClone is a registered trademark of Sentient Science