System and method for detecting onset of structural failure
First Claim
1. A system for detecting onset of structural failure in a structural element subject to a mechanical load, the system comprising:
- a metering away positioned for providing measurements of physical quantities associated with the structural element;
a signal processor for transforming the measurements into a series of sample mode spectra characterizing a natural oscillation frequency of the structural element; and
an output processor for generating an output indicating the onset of structural failure as a function of a shift in the natural oscillation frequency near a critical point of the structural element, wherein the shift in the natural oscillation frequency comprises a shift toward zero frequency near the critical point.
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Abstract
A system for detecting the onset of structural failure in a structural element subject to a mechanical load comprises a metering array, a signal processor, and an output processor. The metering array measures physical quantities associated with the structural element. The signal processor transforms the measured physical quantities into a series of sample mode spectra, and the output processor generates output as a function of the series of sample mode spectra. Methods are also disclosed for detecting the onset of failure in a structural element subject to a mechanical load, for structural testing, and for structural health monitoring.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A system for detecting onset of structural failure in a structural element subject to a mechanical load, the system comprising:
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a metering away positioned for providing measurements of physical quantities associated with the structural element; a signal processor for transforming the measurements into a series of sample mode spectra characterizing a natural oscillation frequency of the structural element; and an output processor for generating an output indicating the onset of structural failure as a function of a shift in the natural oscillation frequency near a critical point of the structural element, wherein the shift in the natural oscillation frequency comprises a shift toward zero frequency near the critical point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for detecting onset of structural failure in a structural element subject to a mechanical load, the method comprising:
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measuring physical quantities associated with the structural element; transforming the measured physical quantities into a series of sample mode spectra characterizing a subsonic natural frequency of oscillation of the structural element; and generating an alarm as a function of a variation in the series of sample mode spectra near a critical point of the structural element, wherein the variation in the series of sample mode spectra comprises a shift in the subsonic natural frequency of oscillation toward zero frequency near the critical point. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for structural testing of a structural element subject to a mechanical load, the method comprising:
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measuring physical quantities associated with the structural element; transforming some of the measured physical quantities into a series of sample mode spectra characterizing a natural frequency of a fundamental mode of oscillation of the structural element; generating an output as a function of a variation in the series of sample mode spectra near a critical point of the structural element, wherein the shift in the series of sample mode spectra comprises a shift in the natural frequency of the fundamental mode of oscillation toward zero frequency near the critical point; and controlling the mechanical load to detect onset of structural failure in the structural element, as a function of the output. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for structural health monitoring, the method comprising:
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measuring physical quantities associated with a composite structural element; transforming the measured physical quantities into a series of sample mode spectra characterizing a natural frequency of oscillation of the composite structural element; and generating an output as a function of the series of sample mode spectra, wherein the output comprises an alarm based upon an alarm-generating function of the sample mode spectra near a critical point of the composite structural element, and wherein the alarm-generating function comprises a shift in the natural frequency of oscillation toward zero frequency near the critical point. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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Specification