Structural life monitoring system
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring growth and magnitude of structural damage of a structural portion of a structure as reflected by growth of a crack therein, the method comprising:
- a) simulating structural damage present in the structural portion with a load test coupon secured to the structural portion, said load test coupon having a loading response substantially identical to a loading response of the structural portion and a crack substantially equivalent to structural damage already present in the structural portion, said crack in the load test coupon having a growth rate magnitude substantially identical to a magnitude of structural damage of the structural portion as said damage occurs and having in alignment therewith a crack growth measurement gage;
b) recording growth of the crack of the test coupon with a recorder unit in communication with the crack growth measurement gage; and
c) comparing crack growth recorded by the recorder unit to correlated structural damage of the structural portion associated with such crack growth.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for measuring growth and magnitude of structural damage in a structure such as an airframe, as reflected by growth of a crack therein, by securing to a structural portion thereof at least one ligament assembly whose properties replicate such damage. The ligament assembly has a metallic load test coupon having a loading response substantially identical to a loading response of the structural portion and an artificial flaw simulating a metallurgical crack. The crack has a growth rate magnitude substantially identical to a magnitude of structural damage of the structural portion as such damage occurs. A crack growth measurement gage is in alignment with the crack of the test coupon and in communication with a recorder unit to record crack growth, and crack growth is compared to correlated structural damage of the structural portion as associated with such growth. The recorder unit preferably includes a data processor capable of comparing crack growth recorded by the recorder unit, correlating this growth to structural damage, reporting the structural damage as a viewable output correlated to the crack growth, and accruing crack-growth data. The method is particularly, but not limitedly, applicable for monitoring structural damage as it occurs to aging aircraft.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring growth and magnitude of structural damage of a structural portion of a structure as reflected by growth of a crack therein, the method comprising:
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a) simulating structural damage present in the structural portion with a load test coupon secured to the structural portion, said load test coupon having a loading response substantially identical to a loading response of the structural portion and a crack substantially equivalent to structural damage already present in the structural portion, said crack in the load test coupon having a growth rate magnitude substantially identical to a magnitude of structural damage of the structural portion as said damage occurs and having in alignment therewith a crack growth measurement gage; b) recording growth of the crack of the test coupon with a recorder unit in communication with the crack growth measurement gage; and c) comparing crack growth recorded by the recorder unit to correlated structural damage of the structural portion associated with such crack growth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for monitoring growth and magnitude of structural damage of a structural portion of a structure as reflected by growth of a crack therein, the method comprising:
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a) simulating structural damage present in the structural portion with two load test coupons secured to the structural portion such that the load test coupons are either in a generally parallel relationship with the structural portion therebetween or in a side by side relationship, each of said load test coupons having a loading response substantially identical to a loading response of the structural portion and a crack substantially equivalent to structural damage already present in the structural portion, said crack in the load test coupon having a growth rate magnitude substantially identical to a magnitude of structural damage of the structural portion as said damage occurs and having in alignment therewith a crack growth measurement gage; b) recording growth of each crack of each test coupon with a recorder unit in communication with the crack growth measurement gage; and c) comparing crack growth of each test coupon recorded by the recorder unit to correlated structural damage of the structural portion associated with such crack growth. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A structural damage monitoring system for monitoring growth and magnitude of structural damage of a structural portion of a structure as reflected by growth of a crack therein, the system comprising:
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a) a ligament assembly securable to the structural portion, the ligament assembly comprising; i) a metallic load test coupon having a loading response substantially identical to a loading response of the structural portion and an artificial flaw simulating a metallurgical crack substantially equivalent to structural damage already present in the structural portion, said crack having a growth rate magnitude substantially identical to a magnitude of structural damage of the structural portion as said damage occurs; and ii) a crack growth measurement gage in alignment with the crack of the test coupon; b) a recorder unit in communication with the crack growth measurement gage for recording growth of the crack of the test coupon; and c) a data processor capable of comparing crack growth recorded by the recorder unit, correlating said growth to structural damage, and reporting the structural damage as a viewable output correlated to the crack growth. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A structural damage monitoring system for monitoring growth and magnitude of structural damage of a structural portion of a structure as reflected by growth of a crack therein, the system comprising:
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a) two ligament assemblies securable to the structural portion either in a generally parallel relationship with the structural portion therebetween or in a side by side relationship, each ligament assembly comprising i) a metallic load test coupon having a loading response substantially identical to a loading response of the structural portion and an artificial flaw simulating a metallurgical crack substantially equivalent to structural damage already present in the structural portion, said crack having a growth rate magnitude substantially identical to a magnitude of structural damage of the structural portion as said damage occurs; and ii) a crack growth measurement gage in alignment with the crack of the test coupon; b) a recorder unit in communication with the crack growth measurement gage for recording growth of the crack of the test coupon; and c) a data processor capable of comparing crack growth recorded by the recorder unit, correlating said growth to structural damage, and reporting the structural damage as a viewable output correlated to the crack growth. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification