METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING AT LEAST ONE PARAMETER FOR ALGORITHMICALLY EVALUATING DAMAGE IN A STRUCTURE

• US 20090099790A1
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Pado, Lawrence E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,734,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/35
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0289 Internal structure, e.g. defects, grain size, texture
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/103 one emitter, two or more receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2694 Wings or other aircraft parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/4481 Neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/50 using auto-correlation techniques or cross-correlation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0283 Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06

Abstract

A method for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to evaluate damage in a structure may include: (a) Determining a plurality of damage index factors using first signal information relating to a first signal transmitted through the structure before the damage is imposed, and second signal information relating to a second signal transmitted through the structure after the damage is imposed. (b) determining a plurality of condensed damage index factors using the plurality of damage index factors. (c) Correlating selected of the condensed damage index factors with selected measured dimensions relating to the damage to determine a correlation index for selected combinations of the condensed damage index factors and the dimensions. (d) Selecting the at least one input parameter from among the selected condensed damage index factors having a correlation index meeting at least one predetermined criterion.

Claims

1. A method for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to assess damage in a structure;

the method comprising;

(a) transmitting at least one first signal traversing said structure from at least one first transmitting unit to at least one first receiving unit through a first target area;

(b) storing first signal information relating to said at least one first signal;

(c) imposing damage to said structure;

at least a portion of said damage being substantially situated within said first target area;

(d) in no particular order;

(1) measuring a plurality of dimensions relating to said damage; and

(2) transmitting said at least one second signal traversing said structure from at least one second transmitting unit to at least one second receiving unit through a second target area;

at least a portion of said damage being substantially situated within said second target area;

(3) storing second signal information relating to said at least one second signal;

(4) determining a plurality of damage index factors using said stored first signal information and said stored second signal information; and

(5) determining a plurality of condensed damage index factors using at least one damage index factor of said plurality of damage index factors;

(e) correlating selected condensed damage index factors of said plurality of condensed damage index factors with selected dimensions of said plurality of dimensions to determine a correlation index for selected combinations of said selected condensed damage index factors and said selected dimensions; and

(f) selecting said at least one input parameter from among said selected condensed damage index factors having a correlation index meeting at least one predetermined criterion.

2. A method for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to assess damage in a structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one first signal and said at least one second signal are substantially similar, and wherein said at least one first signal and said at least one second signal are each ultrasonic signals.

3. A method for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to assess damage in a structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one first transmitting unit, said at least one second transmitting unit, said at least one first receiving unit and said at least one second receiving unit are substantially the same units iteratively serving in different capacities while exercising the method.

4. A method for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to assess damage in a structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said correlating is effected using a linear correlation technique.

5. A method for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to assess damage in a structure as recited in claim 3 wherein said at least one first transmitting unit, said at least one second transmitting unit, said at least one first receiving unit and said at least one second receiving unit are substantially the same units iteratively serving in different capacities while exercising the method.

6. A method for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to assess damage in a structure as recited in claim 2 wherein said correlating is effected using a linear correlation technique.

7. A method for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to assess damage in a structure as recited in claim 3 wherein said correlating is effected using a linear correlation technique.

8. A method for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to evaluate damage in a structure;

the method comprising;

(a) determining a plurality of damage index factors using first signal information and second signal information;

said first signal information relating to a first signal transmitted through a target area in said structure before said damage is imposed;

said second signal information relating to a second signal transmitted through said structure in said target area after said damage is imposed substantially in said target area;

(b) determining a plurality of condensed damage index factors using said plurality of damage index factors;

(c) correlating selected condensed damage index factors of said plurality of condensed damage index factors with selected measured dimensions relating to said damage to determine a correlation index for selected combinations of said selected condensed damage index factors and said selected dimensions; and

(d) selecting said at least one input parameter from among said selected condensed damage index factors having a correlation index meeting at least one predetermined criterion.

9. A method for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to evaluate damage in a structure as recited in claim 8 wherein respective condensed damage index factors of said plurality of condensed damage index factors are based upon a plurality of treatments of a plurality of damage index calculations.

10. A method for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to evaluate damage in a structure as recited in claim 8 wherein said first signal and said second signal are substantially similar, and wherein said first signal and said second signal are each ultrasonic signals.

11. A method for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to evaluate damage in a structure as recited in claim 8 wherein said correlating is effected using a linear correlation technique.

12. A method for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to evaluate damage in a structure as recited in claim 9 wherein said first signal and said second signal are substantially similar, and wherein said first signal and said second signal are each ultrasonic signals.

13. A method for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to evaluate damage in a structure as recited in claim 9 wherein said correlating is effected using a linear correlation technique.

14. A method for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to evaluate damage in a structure as recited in claim 12 wherein said correlating is effected using a linear correlation technique.

15. An apparatus for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to assess damage in a structure;

the apparatus comprising;

(a) at least one first signal transmitting unit coupled with said structure;

(b) at least one first signal receiving unit coupled with said structure;

said at least one first transmitting unit transmitting at least one first signal traversing said structure from said at least one first transmitting unit to said at least one first receiving unit through a first target area;

(c) a first data storing unit coupled with at least one selected first signal receiving unit of said at least one first signal receiving unit;

said first data storing unit storing first signal information relating to said at least one first signal;

(d) at least one second signal transmitting unit coupled with said structure;

(e) at least one second signal receiving unit coupled with said structure;

said at least one second transmitting unit transmitting at least one second signal traversing said structure from said at least one second transmitting unit to said at least one second receiving unit through a second target area;

(f) a second data storing unit coupled with at least one selected second signal receiving unit of said at least one second signal receiving unit;

said second data storing unit storing second signal information relating to said at least one second signal after damage has been imposed to said structure;

at least a portion of said damage being substantially situated within said target area;

(g) a first processing unit coupled with said first data storing unit and said second data storing unit;

said first processing unit determining a plurality of damage index factors using said stored first signal information and said stored second signal information;

(h) a second processing unit coupled with said first processing unit;

said second processing unit determining a plurality of condensed damage index factors using said plurality of damage index factors;

(i) a correlating unit coupled with said second processing unit;

said correlating unit effecting correlation of selected condensed damage index factors of said plurality of condensed damage index factors with selected measured dimensions of said damage to determine a correlation index for selected combinations of said selected condensed damage index factors and said selected measured dimensions; and

(j) a selecting unit coupled with said correlating unit;

said selecting unit effecting selection of said at least one input parameter from among said selected condensed damage index factors having a correlation index meeting at least one predetermined criterion.

16. An apparatus for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to assess damage in a structure as recited in claim 15 wherein said at least one first signal and said at least one second signal are substantially similar, and wherein said at least one first signal and said at least one second signal are each ultrasonic signals.

17. An apparatus for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to assess damage in a structure as recited in claim 15 wherein said at least one first transmitting unit, said at least one second transmitting unit, said at least one first receiving unit and said at least one second receiving unit are substantially the same units iteratively serving in different capacities.

18. An apparatus for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to assess damage in a structure as recited in claim 15 wherein said correlating unit effects said correlation using a linear correlation technique.

19. An apparatus for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to assess damage in a structure as recited in claim 17 wherein said at least one first transmitting unit, said at least one second transmitting unit, said at least one first receiving unit and said at least one second receiving unit are substantially the same units iteratively serving in different capacities.

20. An apparatus for creating at least one input parameter for an algorithmic system to assess damage in a structure as recited in claim 16 wherein said correlating is effected using a linear correlation technique.