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Abstract
This article examines how operational data obtained from sensors interacting with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN)
Halifax Class Frigates onboard Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) could be used to support a shift
from schedule-based maintenance to condition-based maintenance. The idea is to use a few years of IPMS data
logged by the L3Harris Equipment Health Monitoring (EHM) software tool to aid in the development of EHM rules
(or Digital Twins) that will indicate the current health status of various equipment.
The process of EHM rules development consists of several steps. First, the targeted failure modes were selected by
carrying out equipment failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) and reviewing existing operational and
maintenance records collected from the resource management system. For each targeted failure mode, relevant
IPMS integrated sensors data was identified (when available), extracted, and checked for missing values, low signal
to noise ratio and outliers. An equipment digital twin was created using L3Harris EHM built-in functions and/or
Python programming language. Utilization of Python programming language functions allowed implementing EHM
approach for wider range of equipment failure modes. Once the EHM rule was developed, it was tested using a
different set of IPMS data. The results were analyzed and the digital twin model was reworked until a satisfactory response was confirmed. Numerous Digital twins (DTs) were created for critical equipment on board including
propulsion diesel engine, drive train components, pumps, remotely controlled valves, and sensors. This development
process demonstrated how sensors meant to support operational needs and benefit CBM. More value to be expected
should the specific needs of CBM be considered early in the ship design.
L3Harris IPMS was proven a valuable source of information to support the development of EHM rules necessary
for CBM. In the course of this study, L3Harris DT engineering process was also validated by Lloyd’s Register and
received “Digital Twin Ready Approval in Principle” certification. The performance of EHM rules still has to be
validated in the field and its value to be confirmed by the end-users, but the work performed so far is promising.