Method and system for monitoring structural damage
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring damage to a structure having an actuator and a sensor, the method comprising:
- exciting the actuator across a predetermined frequency range to excite the structure;
measuring a vibrational characteristic of the structure across the predetermined frequency range in response to the excitation of the actuator using the sensor;
calculating a transfer function for the sensor using the measured vibrational characteristic;
determining a change in the vibrational characteristic across the predetermined frequency range using the transfer function; and
analyzing the determined change in the vibrational characteristic across the predetermined frequency range to facilitate determining whether the structure is damaged, wherein analyzing the determined change includes;
determining an amount of nonlinearity in the determined change using;
Shift(Freq)=(Coef1×
Freq2)+(Coef2×
Freq)+Coef3; and
comparing the amount of nonlinearity to a predetermined threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for monitoring damage to a structure having an actuator and a sensor. The method includes exciting the actuator across a predetermined frequency range to excite the structure, measuring a vibrational characteristic of the structure across the predetermined frequency range in response to the excitation of the actuator using the sensor, calculating a transfer function for the actuator and the sensor using the measured vibrational characteristic, determining a change in the vibrational characteristic across the predetermined frequency range using the transfer function, and analyzing the determined change in the vibrational characteristic across the predetermined frequency range to facilitate determining whether the structure is damaged.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring damage to a structure having an actuator and a sensor, the method comprising:
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exciting the actuator across a predetermined frequency range to excite the structure; measuring a vibrational characteristic of the structure across the predetermined frequency range in response to the excitation of the actuator using the sensor; calculating a transfer function for the sensor using the measured vibrational characteristic; determining a change in the vibrational characteristic across the predetermined frequency range using the transfer function; and analyzing the determined change in the vibrational characteristic across the predetermined frequency range to facilitate determining whether the structure is damaged, wherein analyzing the determined change includes; determining an amount of nonlinearity in the determined change using; Shift(Freq)=(Coef1×
Freq2)+(Coef2×
Freq)+Coef3; andcomparing the amount of nonlinearity to a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for monitoring damage to a structure comprising:
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an actuator operatively connected to the structure for exciting the structure; a sensor operatively connected to the structure for measuring a vibrational characteristic of the structure in response to excitation of the structure; and a processor operatively connected to the actuator and the sensor programmed to; excite the actuator across a predetermined frequency range to excite the structure; receive from the sensor a measured vibrational characteristic of the structure across the predetermined frequency range in response to the excitation of the actuator; calculate a transfer function for the sensor using the measured vibrational characteristic; determine a change in the vibrational characteristic across the predetermined frequency range using the transfer function; and analyze the determined change in the vibrational characteristic across the predetermined frequency range to facilitate determining whether the structure is damaged, wherein the analysis includes; determining an amount of nonlinearity in the determined change using;
Shift(Freq)=(Coef1×
Freg2)+(Coef2×
Freq)+Coef3; andcomparing the amount of nonlinearity to a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for monitoring damage to a structure having an actuator and a sensor, the method comprising:
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exciting each of a plurality of actuators across a predetermined frequency range to excite the structure; receiving from each of a plurality of sensors a measured vibrational characteristic of the structure across the predetermined frequency range in response to the excitation of the corresponding actuator, wherein each of the sensors being paired with a corresponding actuator; calculating a transfer function for each sensor using the measured vibrational characteristic; determining a change in the vibrational characteristic across the predetermined frequency range using the transfer function for each pair; analyzing the determined change in the vibrational characteristic across the predetermined frequency range for each pair to facilitate determining whether the structure is damaged, wherein a determined nonlinear change indicates the structure is damaged; ranking each of the actuator-sensor pairs based on an indication of damage for each pair based on an amount of nonlinearity in the determined nonlinear change in the vibrational characteristic of each pair; defining an area of the structure most likely to contain damage based on the pair rankings, wherein the definition of an area includes; defining a first area of the structure extending perpendicular to a line drawn between the highest ranked pairs; and defining a second area of the structure located at least partially within the first area based on the pair rankings. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A system for monitoring damage to a structure comprising:
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a plurality of actuators, each of the actuators operatively connected to the structure for exciting the structure; a plurality of sensors, each of the sensors being paired with a corresponding actuator, each of the sensors being further operatively connected to the structure for measuring a vibrational characteristic of the structure in response to excitation of the structure; and a processor operatively connected to the plurality of actuator and the plurality of sensors programmed to; excite each actuator across a predetermined frequency range to excite the structure; receive from each sensor a measured vibrational characteristic of the structure across the predetermined frequency range in response to the excitation of the corresponding actuator; calculate a transfer function for each sensor using the measured vibrational characteristic; determine a change in the vibrational characteristic across the predetermined frequency range using the transfer function for each pair; analyze the determined change in the vibrational characteristic across the predetermined frequency range for each pair to facilitate determining whether the structure is damaged, wherein a determined nonlinear change indicates the structure is damaged; rank each of the actuator-sensor pairs based on an indication of damage for each pair based on an amount of nonlinearity in the determined nonlinear change in the vibrational characteristic of each pair; define an area of the structure most likely to contain damage based on the pair rankings, wherein the definition of an area includes; define a first area of the structure extending perpendicular to a line drawn between the highest ranked pairs; and define a second area of the structure located at least partially within the first area based on the pair rankings. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification