Method and apparatus for detecting a load change upon a structure and analyzing characteristics of resulting damage
First Claim
1. A structural health monitoring system, comprising:
- a plurality of passive sensors coupled to a structure;
a plurality of actuators coupled to the structure; and
a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of passive sensors and the plurality of actuators, the controller configured to receive from the plurality of passive sensors an indication of a load change generating a damage region on a structure, the damage region having a location and a size, the controller further configured to direct the plurality of actuators to transmit stress waves through the structure so as to determine the location and the size of the damage region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor network is attached to a structure and employed to detect and analyze load changes. The sensor network has transducers, capable of acting as both passive sensors and active actuators, integrated within it. In a passive mode, the transducers detect load changes upon the structure, such as impacts. Upon detection of a load change, the transducers are engaged in an active mode to actively scan the impact area to determine the location and size of any resulting damage region. In this manner, passive and active systems are integrated within a single, convenient layer that possesses the best features of both active systems and passive systems.
85 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A structural health monitoring system, comprising:
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a plurality of passive sensors coupled to a structure;
a plurality of actuators coupled to the structure; and
a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of passive sensors and the plurality of actuators, the controller configured to receive from the plurality of passive sensors an indication of a load change generating a damage region on a structure, the damage region having a location and a size, the controller further configured to direct the plurality of actuators to transmit stress waves through the structure so as to determine the location and the size of the damage region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of analyzing a damage region of a structure, comprising:
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receiving a first set of stress waves generated by a load change upon a structure, the load change also generating a damage region on a structure, the damage region having a location and a size; and
in response to the receiving, transmitting a second set of stress waves through the structure so as to facilitate a determination of the location and the size of the damage region. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer readable memory to direct a computer to function in a specified manner, comprising:
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a first module to receive a first set of stress waves generated by a load change upon a structure, the load change also generating a damage region on a structure, the damage region having a location and a size; and
a second module to transmit, in response to the receiving, a second set of stress waves through the structure so as to facilitate a determination of the location and the size of the damage region. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A structural health monitoring system, comprising:
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a plurality of passive sensors configured to facilitate the analysis of a structure;
a plurality of actuators configured to facilitate the analysis of the structure;
switches having first configurations establishing electrical connections with the plurality of passive sensors and second configurations establishing electrical connections with the plurality of actuators; and
a controller in electrical communication with the switches, the controller configured to toggle the switches to the first configurations so as to receive from the plurality of passive sensors an indication of a load change generating a damage region on a structure, and to the second configurations so as to direct the plurality of actuators to transmit stress waves through the structure. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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Specification