Method for material property monitoring with perforated, surface mounted sensors

• US 7,161,350 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2003
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jentek Sensors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jentek Sensors, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldfine, Neil J., Schlicker, Darrell E., Washabaugh, Andrew P., Zilberstein, Vladimir A., Tsukernik, Vladimir, Walrath, Karen E., Weiss, Volker, Clark, David C., Chepolis, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patidar; Jay M.
• Application Number:
  US10/633,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20040066188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 324/209, 324229-243, 324261-263, 324/201, 324/202
• US Class Current: 324/238
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/24 using change in magnetic properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/34 for measuring roughness or irregularity of surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/20 Investigating the presence of flaws
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/72 by investigating magnetic variables
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/902 by moving the sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/12 Measuring magnetic properties of articles or specimens of solids or fluids involving magnetic resonance G01R33/20

Abstract

Material condition monitoring may be performed by electromagnetic sensors and sensor arrays mounted to the material surface. The sensors typically have a periodic winding or electrode structure that creates a periodic sensing field when driven by an electrical signal. The sensors can be thin and flexible so that they conform to the surface of the test material. They can also be mounted such that they do not significantly modify the environmental exposure conditions for the test material, such as by creating stand-off gaps between the sensor and material surface or by perforating the sensor substrate.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring material properties, said method comprising:

mounting an electromagnetic sensor with perforations on a test material surface, the sensor having conducting segments and being responsive to an electrical property of the material area under the sensor, the perforations in the sensor allowing corrosion to occur at the test material surface;

driving the conducting segments with an electrical signal to measure a sensor response; and

converting the sensor response into at least one electrical property of the material under the sensor.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor response is used to monitor and inspect the test material for stress corrosion cracking or corrosion fatigue.

3. A method for monitoring material properties, said method comprising:

mounting an electromagnetic sensor on a test material surface to be exposed to environmental conditions, the sensor having conducting segments and being responsive to an electrical property of the material area under the sensor, with the mounted sensor permitting environmental exposure of the material area under the sensor;

driving the conducting segments with an electrical signal to measure a sensor response; and

converting the sensor response into at least one electrical property of the material under the sensor.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the electromagnetic sensor is perforated.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the environmental exposure causes corrosion of the test material surface.

6. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sensor response is used to monitor and inspect the test material for stress corrosion cracking or corrosion fatigue.