Project Title:

Development of an Integrated Health Monitoring System for Composite Structures

92-1-04.30-0533                                                    NAS07-1217
Development of an Integrated Health Monitoring
     System for Composite Structures
Innovative Dynamics, Inc.
95 Brown Road, Langmuir Labs M.S. 244
Ithaca, NY  14850-1252
Gail A. Hickman                                      (607-257-0533)

Abstract:

     The safety and reliability of composite structures depend
upon the development of sensors to monitor structural health.
Advanced "smart skin" systems will provide warning of such hazards
as disbonding, impact damage, and subsequent damage growth. Under
a multi-phase project, the company is developing an integrated
health monitoring system for retrofitting aircraft structures
using vibration signature analysis techniques. This research will
be advanced to the next stage of embedded systems. Phase I will
evaluate techniques for embedding sensors and actuators within a
composite. A smart composite panel with embedded sensors and
actuators will be constructed and interfaced with existing
processing electronics to determine overall health monitoring
performance. A detailed evaluation of either embedding the
processing electronics within the composite or modularizing them
into an external patch will also be performed. Phase II will
develop the optimal configuration into a full-scale, space-durable
system for future space experiments.

Potential Commercial Application:

Potential Commercial Applications:  Commercial and military
vehicles may be able to significantly extend their useful life by
properly monitoring the vehicle's health using a "smart" structure
sensory system to detect such hazardous conditions as ice
accretion, spin/stall conditions, corrosion and fatigue cracks,
and impact damage. This technology may also find application in
structures such as elevators, buildings, ships, storage tanks, and
dams.

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