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Stream/Area:
-
Subject:
-
Paper ID:
IJSREM62039
Volume:
10 |
4 |
April 2026
Pages:
1-9
Publication Frequency:
Monthly (12 issues per year)
License:International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management follows the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free use and distribution with proper attribution.
Department of Aviation
Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies, Chennai 600117, Tamil Nadu, India
Department of Aviation
Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies, Chennai 600117, Tamil Nadu, India
Department of Aviation
Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies, Chennai 600117, Tamil Nadu, India
Department of Aviation
Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies, Chennai 600117, Tamil Nadu, India
Department of Aviation
Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies, Chennai 600117, Tamil Nadu, India
Aircraft engine nacelles serve as essential structural elements that endure severe operational conditions which include vibration and thermal stress and aerodynamic loads which result in crack development throughout time. The identification of these defects at an early stage proves vital for maintaining the safety and dependability of aircraft operations. The digital twin-based crack detection system developed in this study establishes a framework for evaluating crack severity through the application of image processing and artificial intelligence methods. The proposed system uses image preprocessing techniques that begin with grayscale conversion and Gaussian filtering before using Canny edge detection to find crack boundaries. The system employs an asset-based damage assessment method that calculates damage severity through pixel analysis which displays the findings in both graphical form and an interactive dashboard. The nacelle 3D digital twin model was created using Autodesk Fusion 360 to replicate actual structural conditions. The system provides automatic inspection capability while decreasing the need for human work and enabling organizations to implement predictive maintenance procedures. The results allow for successful crack detection which displays distinct crack progression patterns that demonstrate how computer vision technology and digital twin systems work together to improve aviation structural health monitoring systems.
KEYWORDS
The project successfully demonstrates an automated crack detection and monitoring system for aircraft engine nacelles using image processing and digital twin concepts. The system detects surface cracks through its pixel-based analysis method which measures crack severity and displays crack development through its graphical and dashboard presentation system. The results demonstrate that crack growth stages correspond to different severity levels which confirms that the method works effectively. The system improves inspection operations by delivering dependable inspection results which help maintenance teams make better decisions while decreasing their need for manual inspections. The proposed solution increases aviation safety and reliability while advancing the development of smart structural health monitoring systems. The system requires future development through the integration of advanced AI models which trained specifically for crack detection because this technology will enhance system performance through its accurate detection capabilities. The inclusion of real-time sensors and IoT-based data acquisition can enable continuous monitoring instead of periodic inspection. The system will gain real-world applicability through its extension which enables users to perform 3D crack analysis and subsurface defect detection. The development of a cloud-based platform can allow remote monitoring of multiple aircraft, and the approach can be expanded to other structural components such as wings and fuselage. The system will become a complete predictive maintenance solution which organizations can use through these advancements.
1. NASA, “Digital Twin Technology in Aerospace Applications,” NASA Technical Reports, 2019. 2. OpenCV Documentation, “Image Processing and Edge Detection Techniques,” Available at: https://opencv.org 3. Ultralytics YOLO Documentation, “YOLOv8 Object Detection Model,” Available at: https://docs.ultralytics.com 4. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), “Aircraft Maintenance and Inspection Standards,” ICAO publication 5. Szeliski, R., “Computer Vision: Algorithms and Applications,” Springer, 2011. 6. Gonzalez, R. C., and Woods, R. E., “Digital Image Processing,” Pearson Education, 2018 7. Y. Liu et al., “Crack Detection Using Deep Learning-Based Image Processing,” IEEE Access, 2019. 8. Glaessgen, E., and Stargel, D., “The Digital Twin Paradigm for Future NASA Systems,” AIAA Journal, 2012
Publication Date
4/30/2026
Peer Review Type
Double-Blind Peer Review
Review Rounds: 2
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Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this research work.
Funding Information
No funding information available for this research.
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