Single-wire sensor/actuator network for structural health monitoring

• US 20060283266A1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acellent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acellent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Beard, Shawn J., Qing, Xinlin, Yu, Zengpin
• Granted Patent: US 7,387,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.41
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/35383 using multiple sensor devices using multiplexing techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0041 by determining deflection or stress
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0066 by exciting or detecting vibration or acceleration vibration testing of structures G01M7/00

Abstract

A sensor/actuator network configured with a number of electrically-interconnected elements. More specifically, the sensors/actuators are each placed in electrical communication with the same transmission line. Various embodiments of such networks employ sensors/actuators connected in electrical series and in electrical parallel. Networks having these configurations, when placed upon a structure, are capable of detecting and/or transmitting stress waves within the structure so as to detect the presence of an impact, or actively query the structure. Advantageously, as these networks employ a single transmission line, they utilize fewer wires than current sensor/actuator networks, thus making them easier to install and maintain. They can also be configured as flexible layers, allowing for further ease of installation and maintenance.

Claims

1. A structural health monitoring system, comprising:

a plurality of sensors configured to be spatially distributed along a structure and to transmit electrical signals upon detecting stress waves within the structure; and

wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is placed in electrical communication with each other sensor of the plurality of sensors.

2. The structural health monitoring system of claim 1 wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is placed in electrical series with each other sensor of the plurality of sensors.

3. The structural health monitoring system of claim 1 wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is placed in electrical parallel with each other sensor of the plurality of sensors.

4. The structural health monitoring system of claim 3:

wherein the plurality of sensors is a first plurality of sensors;

wherein a second plurality of sensors is configured to be spatially distributed along the structure and to transmit electrical signals upon detecting stress waves within the structure; and

wherein each sensor of the second plurality of sensors is placed in electrical series with each other sensor of the second plurality of sensors

5. The structural health monitoring system of claim 1 wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is further configured to generate stress waves within the structure.

6. The structural health monitoring system of claim 5 wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is a piezoelectric transducer.

7. The structural health monitoring system of claim 5 wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is a strain sensor.

8. The structural health monitoring system of claim 5 wherein the plurality of sensors is further configured to receive an actuation signal, and wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is further configured to produce the generated stress waves upon receiving the actuation signal.

9. The structural health monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a flexible substrate configured for attachment to the structure, wherein the plurality of sensors is affixed to the flexible substrate.

10. The structural health monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a frequency filter in electrical communication with the plurality of sensors, the frequency filter configured to identify a dominant frequency of the electrical signals so as to facilitate the detection of an impact upon the structure.

11. A structural health monitoring system, comprising:

a plurality of sensors electrically interconnected along a single electrical transmission line, the plurality of sensors configured to be spatially distributed along a structure, and to transmit electrical signals along the electrical transmission line upon detecting stress waves within the structure.

12. The structural health monitoring system of claim 11 wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is placed in electrical series along the transmission line.

13. The structural health monitoring system of claim 11 wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is placed in electrical parallel along the transmission line.

14. The structural health monitoring system of claim 13:

wherein the plurality of sensors is a first plurality of sensors electrically interconnected along a first electrical transmission line;

wherein each sensor of the first plurality of sensors is placed in electrical parallel along the first electrical transmission line; and

wherein a second plurality of sensors is configured to be spatially distributed along the structure and is electrically interconnected along a second electrical transmission line, each sensor of the second plurality of sensors placed in electrical series along the second electrical transmission line.

15. The structural health monitoring system of claim 11 wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is further configured to generate stress waves within the structure.

16. The structural health monitoring system of claim 15 wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is a piezoelectric transducer.

17. The structural health monitoring system of claim 15 wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is a strain sensor.

18. The structural health monitoring system of claim 15 wherein the transmission line is further configured to transmit an actuation signal to the plurality of sensors, and wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is further configured to produce the generated stress waves upon receiving the actuation signal.

19. The structural health monitoring system of claim 11 further comprising a flexible substrate configured for attachment to the structure, wherein the plurality of sensors is affixed to the flexible substrate.

20. The structural health monitoring system of claim 11 further comprising a frequency filter in electrical communication with the transmission line and the plurality of sensors, the frequency filter configured to identify a dominant frequency of the electrical signals so as to facilitate the detection of an impact upon the structure.