Abstract: A reversible joint includes male and female components. The male component has a rigid stud with a shaft region and a head region having a greater width, than the shaft region. The female component includes a polymer-based bushing including a polymer sleeve and an embedded heating element. The polymer sleeve is formed from a shape memory polymer (SMP) or an SMP composite and includes a central channel. The polymer-based bushing is capable of being activated by heating with the embedded heating element to reversibly render the polymer sleeve elastic and allow deformation of the central channel to an expanded channel width during insertion of the head region. The polymer sleeve becomes rigid after deactivation of the polymer-based bushing for retention of the male component. Load bearing assemblies formed by connecting modular structures with the reversible joint are also provided along with installation tools for the same.

Abstract: A method of detecting an event and recording quantitative parameters associated with the event is provided. The method includes securing an event detection and recording system on a piece of equipment, the event detection and recording system comprising a plurality of sensors, an internal power source, and a microcontroller. The method further includes activating a low monitoring mode and measuring one or more quantitative parameters with the one or more of the sensors at a first sampling rate to generate low monitoring mode sensor data; analyzing the low monitoring mode sensor data to detect initiation of a triggering event; terminating the low monitoring mode upon detection of the triggering event; and activating a high monitoring mode including measuring and recording one or more quantitative parameters at a second sampling rate, where the second sampling rate is greater than the first sampling rate. The associated system is also provided.