Structural assessment and monitoring system and associated method

• US 20070095160A1
• Filed: 11/03/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Georgeson, Gary, Matsen, Marc, Westerman, Bud
• Application Number:
  US11/266,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20070095160A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/866
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2694 Wings or other aircraft parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/0645 Display representation or displayed parameters, e.g. A-, B- or C-Scan
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/22 Details , e.g. general constructional or apparatus details

Abstract

A system and method for assessing and monitoring a structure are provided. The system includes at least one radio frequency identification tag, and at least one non-destructive inspection sensor for acquiring data indicative of the structure and providing the acquired data to the radio frequency identification tag. The system could also include a data acquisition system capable of wirelessly communicating with the radio frequency identification tag and providing information indicative of a defect in the structure based on the data acquired by the non-destructive inspection sensor.

Claims

1. A system for assessing and monitoring a structure comprising:

at least one radio frequency identification tag; and

at least one non-destructive inspection sensor for receiving a signal following propagation through at least a portion of the structure and acquiring data indicative of a defect in the structure based on the signal and providing the acquired data to the radio frequency identification tag.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is integrated with the non-destructive inspection sensor.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the non-destructive inspection sensor comprises a piezoelectric sensor.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag and non-destructive inspection sensor are attached to, or embedded within, the structure.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag and non-destructive inspection sensor are carried by an appliqué

or a repair patch.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag and non-destructive inspection sensor are capable of storing the data acquired by the non-destructive inspection sensor.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a a high permeability material backing positioned between the radio frequency identification tag and the structure.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the high permeability material backing is positioned adjacent to a metallic structure.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a data acquisition system capable of wirelessly communicating with the radio frequency identification tag and providing information indicative of a defect in the structure based on the data acquired by the non-destructive inspection sensor.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the radio frequency identification tag and non-destructive inspection sensor are capable of storing information provided by the data acquisition system.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one power source for powering at least one of the radio frequency identification tag and the non-destructive inspection sensor.

12. A method for assessing and monitoring a structure comprising:

transmitting a signal within the structure;

detecting the signal with at least one non-destructive inspection sensor following propagation through at least a portion of the structure;

acquiring data indicative of a defect in the structure with the at least one non-destructive inspection sensor based on the detected signal;

providing the data to at least one wireless communication device carried by the structure;

wirelessly transmitting the data from the at least one wireless communication device; and

characterizing a defect within the structure based on the data acquired by the at least one non-destructive inspection sensor and transmitted by the at least one wireless communication device.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising positioning the at least one wireless communication device and non-destructive inspection sensor within or adjacent to the structure.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein positioning comprises embedding the at least one wireless communication device and non-destructive inspection sensor within the structure.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein positioning comprises positioning the at least one wireless communication device and non-destructive inspection sensor within an appliqué

or a repair patch.

16. The method according to claim 12, further comprising positioning a high permeability backing material between the at least one wireless communication device and the structure.

17. The method according to claim 12, further comprising storing the acquired data with the at least one wireless communication device or non-destructive inspection sensor.

18. The method according to claim 12, further comprising storing information indicative of the defect with the at least one wireless communication device or non-destructive inspection sensor.

25. The method of claim 12, wherein transmitting comprises transmitting signals within the structure with at least one of the non-destructive inspection sensor, a data acquisition system, an impact to the structure, and a pulser card.

26. The method of claim 12, wherein transmitting comprises transmitting stress waves within the structure.

19. A wireless device for assessing and monitoring a structure comprising:

at least one radio frequency identification tag capable of acquiring data indicative of the structure, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is also capable of wirelessly communicating with a data acquisition system.

20. The wireless device according to claim 19, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is attached to, or embedded within, the structure.

21. The wireless device according to claim 19, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is carried by an appliqué

or a repair patch.

22. The wireless device according to claim 19, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is capable of storing the acquired data, and wherein the radio frequency identification tag is capable of transmitting the acquired data to the data acquisition system.

23. The wireless device according to claim 19, wherein at least one characteristic of the radio frequency identification tag is modified to acquire data indicative of the structure.

24. The wireless device according to claim 23, wherein the characteristic comprises a deformed antenna.