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System for in-situ delamination detection in composites

  • US 5,814,729 A
  • Filed: 09/09/1996
  • Issued: 09/29/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A sensor system for detecting a defect in laminated composite structures comprising:

  • at least one mechanical actuator, in operable contact with said laminated composite and adapted for generation of a vibration wave that propagates as a vibration signal along at least one propagation line extending through said laminated composite structure;

    at least two delamination sensors, in operable contact with said composite structure, for sensing vibration signals generated by said actuator and propagating along propagation lines defined between said actuator and respective ones of said delamination sensors; and

    delamination detection means in operable communication with said delamination sensors for evaluation of said sensed vibration signals that have propagated along propagation lines defined between the actuator and said delamination sensors, wherein said delamination detection means comprises;

    means for analyzing the vibration signals propagating along the propagation lines and detected by said respective delamination sensors to determine whether the propagation lines extend through a delamination region in said laminated composite structure;

    means for categorizing each of said propagation lines wherein said categorizing step categorizes propagation lines which extend through a delamination region as delamination lines and categorizes propagation lines which do not extend through delamination regions as delamination-free lines; and

    means for determining the presence of a delamination region, the location of said delamination region, and boundaries of said delamination region based on the relative positions of said delamination lines and said delamination-free lines.

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