Abstract: A method of determining structural health of an assembly includes determining a Margin of Safety (MSH) value for at least one of a plurality of components in the assembly when the assembly is healthy. The method includes determining if damage to the assembly has occurred. If damage to the assembly has occurred, the method includes determining a Margin of Safety (MSD) value for at least one of the plurality of components in the assembly when the assembly is damaged. The method includes determining a Structural Health Index (SHI) of the assembly based on the MSD value for the at least one undamaged component.

Abstract: A piezoelectric sensor assembly for measuring a force quantity on a structure includes at least one piezoelectric sensor, each including an element and two electrodes each projecting outward from the element. An electronic processor of the assembly is configured to receive data from the sensor, wherein the data includes a voltage with a magnitude that is indicative of a dynamic load (i.e., amplitude modulation mode) placed upon the structure. The processor may be configured to interrogate the piezoelectric sensor for its resonant frequency change which is indicative of the load applied to the structure at low operation frequency and to which the piezoelectric sensor would not otherwise respond well. The dual mode operation of the piezoelectric sensor extends the frequency range of the strain measurement from the dynamic range to static or quasi-static range.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting, quantifying, and characterizing corrosion and degradation of an article, includes receiving signals indicative of a stack of images of a surface of the article; determining depth and nature of features in the stack of images; generating a surface model of the article in response to the determination of the depth and the nature of features; determining features of interest from the surface model; comparing the features of interest with predetermined information on the article; and characterizing the article as corroded or degraded in response to the comparisons of the features of interest.

Abstract: A structural health monitoring module including a sensor attached to a surface of a structural member configured to convert a strain on the structural member to electric energy, a gate operationally connected to the sensor and configured to control distribution of the energy, an energy storage device operationally connected to the gate and configured to receive the energy from the sensor, a data collection device configured to receive the energy from the sensor and at least one of process and record data related to the received energy, and a data transmission device configured to wirelessly transmit data from the data collection device to an external receiver. The gate is configured to direct a portion of the energy to the storage device in a storage state and configured to direct a portion of the energy to the data collection device when in load monitoring or interrogation states.

Abstract: A fiber-optic sensor system includes a structure having a fiber-optic cable operatively connected thereto. The system includes a network controller with an interrogator operatively connected to the fiber-optic cable to receive optical energy indicative of a characteristic of the structure therefrom and convert optical energy to electrical energy and electrical energy to optical energy for data communication. A sensor and/or a data source are operatively connected to the fiber-optic cable through the network controller to transmit data through the fiber-optic cable and receive data therefrom.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to obtaining data based on samples of a vibration signal, processing, by at least one processor, the data to obtain a qualitative and quantitative assessment of a health of the one or more components based on an application of the data to at least one model, and outputting the assessment. Embodiments of the disclosure may be applied to one or more components of a drive shaft of an aircraft.

Abstract: A piezoelectric sensor assembly for measuring a force quantity on a structure includes at least one piezoelectric sensor, each including an element and two electrodes each projecting outward from the element. An electronic processor of the assembly is configured to receive data from the sensor, wherein the data includes a voltage with a magnitude that is indicative of a dynamic load (i.e., amplitude modulation mode) placed upon the structure. The processor may be configured to interrogate the piezoelectric sensor for its resonant frequency change which is indicative of the load applied to the structure at low operation frequency and to which the piezoelectric sensor would not otherwise respond well. The dual mode operation of the piezoelectric sensor extends the frequency range of the strain measurement from the dynamic range to static or quasi-static range.

Abstract: A fiber-optic sensor system includes a structure having a fiber-optic cable operatively connected thereto. The system includes a network controller with an interrogator operatively connected to the fiber-optic cable to receive optical energy indicative of a characteristic of the structure therefrom and convert optical energy to electrical energy and electrical energy to optical energy for data communication. A sensor and/or a data source are operatively connected to the fiber-optic cable through the network controller to transmit data through the fiber-optic cable and receive data therefrom.

Abstract: A structural health monitoring module including a sensor attached to a surface of a structural member configured to convert a strain on the structural member to electric energy, a gate operationally connected to the sensor and configured to control distribution of the energy, an energy storage device operationally connected to the gate and configured to receive the energy from the sensor, a data collection device configured to receive the energy from the sensor and at least one of process and record data related to the received energy, and a data transmission device configured to wirelessly transmit data from the data collection device to an external receiver. The gate is configured to direct a portion of the energy to the storage device in a storage state and configured to direct a portion of the energy to the data collection device when in load monitoring or interrogation states.

Abstract: A method of assessing structural health includes receiving an anomaly detector, receiving an anomaly detection threshold, and receiving a strain measurement for a structure of interest. A rating is generated for the strain measurement using the anomaly detector and compared with the anomaly detection threshold. Health of the structure of interest is determined based on the comparison of the rating and the anomaly detection threshold.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting, quantifying, and characterizing corrosion and degradation of an article, includes receiving signals indicative of a stack of images of a surface of the article; determining depth and nature of features in the stack of images; generating a surface model of the article in response to the determination of the depth and the nature of features; determining features of interest from the surface model; comparing the features of interest with predetermined information on the article; and characterizing the article as corroded or degraded in response to the comparisons of the features of interest.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to obtaining at least one sample of load or load path data from at least one piezoelectric sensor associated with a structure, comparing the at least one sample of data to at least one prior sample of data obtained from the at least one sensor, and providing a status of a health of the structure based on the comparison.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to obtaining data based on samples of a vibration signal, processing, by at least one processor, the data to obtain a qualitative and quantitative assessment of a health of the one or more components based on an application of the data to at least one model, and outputting the assessment. Embodiments of the disclosure may be applied to one or more components of a drive shaft of an aircraft.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to obtaining at least one sample of load or load path data from at least one piezoelectric sensor associated with a structure, comparing the at least one sample of data to at least one prior sample of data obtained from the at least one sensor, and providing a status of a health of the structure based on the comparison.