Structural damage index mapping system and method
First Claim
1. A method for detecting and evaluating structural defects, comprising the steps of:
- storing baseline data associated with a structure, the baseline data representative of sensed ultrasonic waves that were transmitting into the structure with no defects;
transmitting ultrasonic waves into the structure from a plurality of actuators that are coupled to the structure;
sensing, with a plurality of sensors that are coupled to the structure and spaced apart from the actuators, the ultrasonic waves transmitted into the structure from the plurality of actuators, to thereby generate and supply sensor data;
calculating signal difference coefficients from the baseline data and the sensor data; and
spatially mapping the calculated signal difference coefficients to detect one or more structural defects in the structure,wherein the signal difference coefficients (SDCs) are calculated using the following equation;
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for detecting and evaluating structural defects are provided. Baseline data representative of sensed ultrasonic waves that were transmitting into a structure with no defects are stored. Ultrasonic waves are transmitted into the structure from a plurality of actuators that are coupled to the structure. The ultrasonic waves that are transmitted into the structure from the plurality of actuators are sensed, with a plurality of sensors that are coupled to the structure and spaced apart from the actuators, to thereby generate and supply sensor data. Signal difference coefficients are calculated from the baseline data and the sensor data. The calculated signal difference coefficients are spatially mapped to detect one or more structural defects in the structure.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for detecting and evaluating structural defects, comprising the steps of:
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storing baseline data associated with a structure, the baseline data representative of sensed ultrasonic waves that were transmitting into the structure with no defects; transmitting ultrasonic waves into the structure from a plurality of actuators that are coupled to the structure; sensing, with a plurality of sensors that are coupled to the structure and spaced apart from the actuators, the ultrasonic waves transmitted into the structure from the plurality of actuators, to thereby generate and supply sensor data; calculating signal difference coefficients from the baseline data and the sensor data; and spatially mapping the calculated signal difference coefficients to detect one or more structural defects in the structure, wherein the signal difference coefficients (SDCs) are calculated using the following equation; - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A structural defect detection and evaluation system, comprising:
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a plurality of first sensor/actuators adapted to be coupled to a structure, each first sensor/actuator configured to selectively transmit ultrasonic waves into the structure; a plurality of second sensor/actuators adapted to be coupled to the structure and, when coupled thereto, to be spaced apart from each of the first sensor/actuators, each second sensor/actuator configured to selectively sense the ultrasonic waves transmitted from one or more of the first sensor/actuators and generate sensor data; and a processor coupled to receive the sensor data and configured, upon receipt thereof, to; calculate signal difference coefficients from the sensor data and baseline data, the baseline data representative of sensed ultrasonic waves that were transmitting into the structure with no defect present, and spatially map the calculated signal difference coefficients to detect one or more structural defects in the structure, wherein the processor is configured to calculate the signal difference coefficients (SDCs) using the following equation; - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A structural defect detection and evaluation system, comprising:
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a plurality of first sensor/actuators, each of the first sensor/actuators mounted on a first flexible printed circuit and adapted to be coupled to a structure, each first sensor/actuator configured to selectively transmit ultrasonic waves into the structure; a plurality of second sensor/actuators, each of the second sensor/actuators mounted on a second flexible printed circuit and adapted to be coupled to the structure, each second sensor/actuator, when coupled to the structure, spaced apart from each of the first sensor/actuators, each second sensor/actuator configured to selectively sense the ultrasonic waves transmitted from one or more of the first sensor/actuators and generate sensor data; a display device coupled to receive image rendering display commands and configured, upon receipt thereof, to selectively render images representative of the image rendering display commands; and a processor coupled to receive the sensor data and configured, upon receipt thereof, to; calculate signal difference coefficients from the sensor data and baseline data, the baseline data representative of sensed ultrasonic waves that were transmitting into the structure with no defect present, spatially map the calculated signal difference coefficients to detect one or more structural defects in the structure, to generate a damage map from the spatially mapped signal difference coefficients, and selectively generate image rendering display commands representative of the damage map, wherein the processor is configured to calculate the signal difference coefficients (SDCs) using the following equation;
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19. A method for detecting and evaluating structural defects, comprising the steps of:
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storing baseline data associated with a structure, the baseline data representative of sensed ultrasonic waves that were transmitting into the structure with no defects; transmitting ultrasonic waves into the structure from a plurality of actuators that are coupled to the structure; sensing, with a plurality of sensors that are coupled to the structure and spaced apart from the actuators, the ultrasonic waves transmitted into the structure from the plurality of actuators, to thereby generate and supply sensor data; calculating signal difference coefficients from the baseline data and the sensor data; supplying the signal difference coefficients to a trained neural network to detect whether a defect is present; and using the trained artificial neural network to estimate a size of a defect that is determined to be present, wherein the signal difference coefficients (SDCs) are calculated using the following equation; - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for detecting and evaluating structural defects, comprising the steps of:
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storing baseline data associated with a structure, the baseline data representative of sensed ultrasonic waves that were transmitting into the structure with no defects; transmitting ultrasonic waves into the structure from a plurality of actuators that are coupled to the structure; sensing, with a plurality of sensors that are coupled to the structure and spaced apart from the actuators, the ultrasonic waves transmitted into the structure from the plurality of actuators, to thereby generate and supply sensor data; calculating signal difference coefficients from the baseline data and the sensor data; spatially mapping the calculated signal difference coefficients to detect one or more structural defects in the structure generating; a damage map from the spatially mapped signal difference coefficients; identifying and localizing the individual defects using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and image segmentation; and estimating defect size, wherein the signal difference coefficients (SDCs) are calculated using the following equation;
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Specification