The Effect of Corrosion on the Electrical Contact Performance of Aviation Connectors Revealed by In Situ Impedance Measurements

Abstract

This work proposes a new method to evaluate the electrical contact performance of aviation connectors by in situ measurement of broadband impedance. The broadband impedance of the wire connector under corrosive environments is measured using an inductively coupled measurement scheme, which can be conducted under operating conditions. By observing variations in the inductance and resonant frequency of measured impedance, the degradation of the connectors can be assessed more accurately and intuitively. Experiments reveal a quasi-linear degradation correspondence between the impedance of connectors and corrosion duration. Moreover, the impedance of connectors is more sensitive to corrosion-induced degradation compared to resistance, which means that potential damage to the connector can be detected earlier through the proposed in situ impedance measurement, allowing for better-informed risk management and timely repair or replacement, particularly in safety-critical situations.