Method for satisfying certification requirements and verifying the integrity of structural health management systems
First Claim
1. A method for verifying the integrity of a structural health management system comprising a plurality of sensors mounted on a structure, the method comprising:
- establishing a baseline data set for each of the plurality of sensors;
performing a calibration-in procedure to collect a calibration-in data set for each of the plurality of sensors;
comparing the calibration-in data set for each sensor of the plurality of sensors to the baseline data set for each sensor of the plurality of sensors; and
if the calibration-in data set and the baseline data set match;
performing a structural characterization;
performing a calibration-out procedure to generate a calibration-out data set; and
verifying that the structural health management system is working by comparing the calibration-out data set and the calibration-in data set match for each sensor of the plurality of sensors.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for verifying the integrity of a structural health management system comprising a plurality of sensors mounted on a structure, a baseline data set for each of the plurality of sensors and a calibration procedure that uses the structure itself as part of the reference standard is disclosed. Initially a baseline data set, including time-of-flight between each of the plurality of sensors and neighboring sensor selected from the plurality of sensors, is established. Before performing the structural health assessment a calibration-in data set for each of the plurality of sensors is collected. The calibration-in data set is compared to the baseline data set for each sensor of the plurality of sensors. If the calibration-in data set and the baseline data set match then a structure characterization is performed. If the calibration-in data set and the baseline data set do not match, an approach to resolving the ambiguity between inoperable sensors versus structural failure is disclosed. After resolution of any ambiguity and performing the structural damage detection, a calibration-out procedure is performed to generate a calibration-out data set. It is then determined that the structural health management system was working during the damage estimation interval if the calibration-out data set and the calibration-in data sets match.
5 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for verifying the integrity of a structural health management system comprising a plurality of sensors mounted on a structure, the method comprising:
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establishing a baseline data set for each of the plurality of sensors;
performing a calibration-in procedure to collect a calibration-in data set for each of the plurality of sensors;
comparing the calibration-in data set for each sensor of the plurality of sensors to the baseline data set for each sensor of the plurality of sensors; and
if the calibration-in data set and the baseline data set match;
performing a structural characterization;
performing a calibration-out procedure to generate a calibration-out data set; and
verifying that the structural health management system is working by comparing the calibration-out data set and the calibration-in data set match for each sensor of the plurality of sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for verifying the integrity of a structural health management system mounted on a structure comprising:
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(a) performing a calibration-in procedure on the structural health management system using a previous assessment of the structure as a reference;
(b) interrogating the structure to determine if there is damage, the structure treated as an unknown; and
(c) performing a calibration-out procedure on the structural health management system using the previous assessment of the structure as a reference. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A structural health management system comprising:
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a plurality of sensors mounted on a to-be-tested structure, one or more processors coupled to each of the sensors and configured to;
establish a baseline data set for each of the plurality of sensors;
perform a calibration-in procedure to collect a calibration-in data set for each of the plurality of sensors;
compare the calibration-in data set for each sensor of the plurality of sensors to the baseline data set for each sensor of the plurality of sensors;
if the calibration-in data set and the baseline data set match;
perform a structural characterization;
perform a calibration-out procedure to generate a calibration-out data set; and
verify that the structural health management system is working by comparing the calibration-out data set and the calibration-in data set and achieving a match for each of the plurality of sensors;
if the calibration-in data set does not match the baseline data set;
identify non-matching sensors of the plurality of sensors whose calibration-in data does not match the baseline data set;
evaluate each of the non-matching sensors against neighboring sensors to determine a set of ambiguous sensors;
identify areas surrounded by the set of ambiguous sensors characterize the areas surrounded by the set of ambiguous sensors; and
if the characterization fails to detect any damage;
identify the ambiguous sensors as failed sensors;
rebaseline areas containing damaged sensors; and
if the characterization detects any damage;
characterize any remaining uncharacterized area; and
perform a calibration-out procedure. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification