Structural analysis using measurement of fastener parameters
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of analyzing a structure, comprising:
- storing in a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags a value of at least one parameter indicating a status of each of a plurality of fasteners installed on a structure;
measuring with a handheld reader the value of the at least one parameter stored in the plurality of RFID tags indicating the status of each of the plurality of fasteners installed on the structure;
correlating the measured values;
analyzing the structure based on the results of the correlation; and
generating an analytical report for each of the fasteners based on the results of the correlation, wherein at least one of the correlating and analyzing is performed using a programmed computer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer implemented method is provided for analyzing the health of a structure by measuring the value of preload on each of a plurality of fasteners installed on the structure and correlating the measured values of preload with a set of specifications. A report is generated for each of the fasteners representing the results of the correlations. Groups of the fastener reports are used to infer the health of the structure.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of analyzing a structure, comprising:
-
storing in a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags a value of at least one parameter indicating a status of each of a plurality of fasteners installed on a structure; measuring with a handheld reader the value of the at least one parameter stored in the plurality of RFID tags indicating the status of each of the plurality of fasteners installed on the structure; correlating the measured values; analyzing the structure based on the results of the correlation; and generating an analytical report for each of the fasteners based on the results of the correlation, wherein at least one of the correlating and analyzing is performed using a programmed computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9)
-
-
7. A computer implemented method of analyzing the health of a structure, comprising:
-
measuring the value of preload on each of a plurality of fasteners installed on the structure; correlating the measured values of preload with a set of database information relating to the structure; generating a report for each of the fasteners representing the results of the correlations; inferring the health of the structure based on a group of the fastener reports; applying a voltage pulse to each of the plurality of fasteners; and measuring a time of flight of an ultrasonic wave reflected back from an end of each of the plurality of fasteners. - View Dependent Claims (8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A system for analyzing an aircraft structure having a plurality of fasteners installed thereon, comprising:
-
a first plurality of sensors respectively on a first plurality of fasteners on a first section of the aircraft structure and each operable for measuring the value of at least one parameter related to the associated fastener; a second plurality of sensors respectively on a second plurality of fasteners on a second section of the aircraft structure and each operable for measuring the value of at least one parameter related to the associated fastener; a database containing information related to characteristics of the structure; at least one correlation and analysis module for correlating the measured values from the first plurality of sensors and from the second plurality of sensors, for correlating the measured values of the parameter with at least one of the characteristics contained in the database, and for generating a report reflecting the results of the correlation; an information inferencing engine for inferring structural information based on the report and for generating a structural analysis report reflecting the inferred structural information; and a fastener tracking database used by the correlation and analysis module to correlate the measured values, the fastener tracking database including a set of data representing unique characteristics of each of the fasteners. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification