SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING STRUCTURES FOR DAMAGE USING NONDESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION TECHNIQUES
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring a structure for damage, comprising:
- stimulating a sensor in a sensor array to generate a plurality of waves;
wherein the sensor array includes one or more quadrants, wherein each quadrant includes one or more sensors;
acquiring sensor data from all sensors in each quadrant in parallel, the sensor data including one or more wave characteristics;
processing the sensor data wave characteristics for analysis;
comparing the processed sensor data wave characteristics with threshold values to determine the presence of damage to the structure; and
notifying a corrective system if the presence of damage is determined, for corrective action.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for monitoring a structure for damage is provided. The method includes stimulating a sensor in a sensor array to generate a plurality of waves. The sensor array includes one or more quadrants, wherein each quadrant includes one or more sensors. Sensor data from all sensors are acquired in each quadrant in parallel. The sensor data wave characteristics is processed for analysis. The processed sensor data wave characteristics are compared with threshold values to determine the presence of damage to the structure. If the presence of damage is determined, a corrective system is notified for corrective action.
22 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring a structure for damage, comprising:
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stimulating a sensor in a sensor array to generate a plurality of waves;
wherein the sensor array includes one or more quadrants, wherein each quadrant includes one or more sensors;acquiring sensor data from all sensors in each quadrant in parallel, the sensor data including one or more wave characteristics; processing the sensor data wave characteristics for analysis; comparing the processed sensor data wave characteristics with threshold values to determine the presence of damage to the structure; and notifying a corrective system if the presence of damage is determined, for corrective action. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for monitoring a structure for damage, comprising:
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(a) laying out a plurality of sensor arrays on the structure;
wherein each of the plurality of sensor arrays includes a plurality of quadrants;
wherein each quadrant in the plurality of quadrants includes a plurality of sensors;(b) continuously acquiring sensor data from all sensors in each quadrant in parallel, wherein sensor data including one or more wave characteristics; (c) processing the sensor data wave characteristics for analysis; (d) comparing the processed sensor data wave characteristics with threshold values to detect damage to the structure; (e) repeating steps (b)-(d) so as to detect damage to the structure; and (f) notifying a corrective system if the damage to the structure is detected, for corrective action. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for monitoring a structure for damage, comprising:
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a plurality of sensor arrays on the surface of the structure;
wherein each sensor array in the plurality of sensor arrays includes a plurality of quadrants; and
wherein each quadrant in the plurality of quadrants includes a plurality of sensors; anda plurality of network detection modules;
wherein each network detection module in the plurality of network detection modules acquires sensor data from all sensors in each quadrant in parallel, the sensor data including one or more wave characteristics;
wherein each network detection module includes a plurality of multiplexers for multiplexing the sensor data from each quadrant for transmission into a plurality of single channels with a single channel for each quadrant and a computational engine for comparing the wave characteristics from the plurality of single channels with predetermined thresholds to determine the presence of damage to the structure. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for monitoring a structure for damage, comprising:
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a plurality of sensor arrays disposed about the boundaries of the structure and between the boundaries of the structure;
wherein each sensor array in the plurality of sensor arrays includes a plurality of quadrants; and
wherein each quadrant in the plurality of quadrant includes a plurality of sensors; anda plurality of network detection modules;
wherein each network detection module in the plurality of network detection modules acquires sensor data from all sensors in each quadrant in parallel, the sensor data including one or more wave characteristics;
where each of the network detection modules are synchronized causing sensors on a first sensor array on a first boundary of the structure to acquire stimulus originating from a second sensor array on a second boundary of the structure;
wherein each network detection module includes a plurality of multiplexers for multiplexing the sensor data from each quadrant into a plurality of single channels with a single channel for each quadrant and a computational engine for comparing the wave characteristics from the plurality of single channels with predetermined thresholds to determine the presence of damage to the structure.
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Specification