Smart repair patch and associated method

• US 20070100582A1
• Filed: 11/03/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Georgeson, Gary, Griess, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 7,398,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0033 by determining damage, crack or wear
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/001 Impulsive
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0623 using piezoelectric gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0688 Time or frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/045 by imparting shocks to the workpiece and detecting the vibrations or the acoustic waves caused by the shocks measuring resonant frequency G01H13/00; measuring strength properties by application of mechanical stress G01N3/00

Abstract

A system and method for identifying defects in a repair patch applied to a structure are provided. The system includes a sheet of material configured to be attached to the structure, and a mechanism operable to generate stress waves within and along the sheet of material. The system also includes a plurality of non-destructive sensors carried by the sheet of material. Each sensor is capable of detecting the stress waves. The system further includes a data acquisition system capable of communicating with the sensors such that the data acquisition system is also capable of generating information indicative of at least a portion of the sheet of material based on the data detected by the sensors.

Claims

1. A system for identifying defects in a repair patch applied to a structure comprising:

a sheet of material configured to be attached to the structure;

a mechanism operable to generate stress waves within and along the sheet of material;

a plurality of non-destructive sensors carried by the sheet of material, each sensor capable of detecting the stress waves; and

a data acquisition system capable of communicating with the sensors such that the data acquisition system is capable of generating information indicative of at least a portion of the sheet of material based on the data detected by the sensors.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data acquisition system is capable of generating information indicative of an adhesion of the sheet of material to the structure based on the data detected by the sensors.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data acquisition system is capable of generating information indicative of a defect in the sheet of material based on the data detected by the sensors.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism is capable of generating stress waves within an along a surface of the structure.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the data acquisition system is capable of generating information indicative of a defect in the structure based on the data detected by the sensors.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sheet of material is configured to be temporarily attached to the structure.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensors comprise piezo-electric sensors.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensors are arranged about the periphery of the sheet of material.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the sensors are arranged in a ring on the sheet of material.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises a tapper, a tapper having a spring-loaded bar, one or more clickers, a hammer, or a pulser card.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism is capable of generating the stress waves at approximately a center of the sheet of material.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein sheet of material comprises a pre-cured composite material.

13. A patch for repairing a structure comprising:

a sheet of material capable of being attached to the structure; and

a plurality of non-destructive sensors carried by the sheet of material, wherein each of the sensors is capable of detecting stress waves traveling within and along the sheet of material.

14. The patch according to claim 13, wherein the sheet of material is configured to be temporarily attached to the structure.

15. The patch according to claim 13, wherein the sensors are arranged about the periphery of the sheet of material.

16. The patch according to claim 15, wherein the sensors are arranged in a ring on the sheet of material.

17. The patch according to claim 13, wherein the sensors comprise piezo-electric sensors.

18. The patch according to claim 13, wherein the sheet of material comprises a pre-cured composite material.

19. The patch according to claim 13, further comprising at least one power source for powering the sensors.

20. A method for identifying defects in a repair patch applied to a structure comprising:

attaching a sheet of material carrying a plurality of non-destructive inspection sensors to the structure;

generating stress waves within and along a surface of the sheet of material;

detecting the stress waves with the sensors; and

deriving information from the stress waves that is indicative of at least a portion of the sheet of material.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein deriving comprises deriving information indicative of a defect in the sheet of material.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein generating comprises initiating stress waves approximately at the center of sheet of material.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein generating comprises generating stress waves within and along a surface of the structure.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein deriving comprises deriving information from the stress waves that is indicative of at least a portion of the structure.

25. The method according to claim 20, further comprising communicating the data acquired by the sensors to a data acquisition system and creating an image of at least a portion of the sheet of material with the data acquisition system based on the data detected by the sensors.