Systems for monitoring the environmental history of a component

A method of monitoring an environmental history of a component, comprising:

• direct-printing a geometric patterned array of energy exposure indicator pads on a surface of the component;
• wherein a plurality of energy exposure indicator pads in the geometric patterned array include a mechanochromic material that exhibits a first detectable optical response after exposure to an impact or a strain;
• a plurality of energy exposure indicator pads in the geometric patterned array include a first thermochromic indicator that exhibits a second detectable optical response when exposed to a temperature within a first temperature range;
• a plurality of energy exposure indicator pads in the geometric pattern include a second thermochromic indicator that exhibits a third detectable optical response when exposed to a temperature within a second temperature range;
• a plurality of energy exposure indicator pads in the geometric pattern include a third thermochromic indicator that exhibits a fourth detectable optical response when exposed to a temperature within a third temperature range;
• provided that the first, second, and third temperature ranges are distinct from each other;
• exposing the component to an environmental condition;
• illuminating the geometric patterned array at one or more wavelengths appropriate to interrogate the energy exposure indicator pad materials therein;
• detecting one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth detectable optical responses;
• correlating the detected optical responses with the environmental history of the component.

A system for monitoring an environmental history of a component having a surface, comprising:

• an array of energy exposure indicator pads direct-printed onto a surface of the component in a geometric pattern;
• wherein
• a plurality of energy exposure indicator pads in the geometric pattern include a mechanochromic material;
• a plurality of energy exposure indicator pads in the geometric pattern include a first thermochromic indicator responsive to temperatures within a first temperature range;
• a plurality of energy exposure indicator pads in the geometric pattern include a second thermochromic indicator responsive to temperatures within a second temperature range;
• a plurality of energy exposure indicator pads in the geometric pattern include a third thermochromic indicator responsive to temperatures within a third temperature range;
• provided that the first, second, and third temperature ranges are distinct from each other;
• an excitation source configured to illuminate the energy exposure indicator pads at a wavelength selected to elicit a detectable optical response from the energy exposure indicator pads;
• a detector configured to detect one or more optical responses from the energy exposure indicator pads including the mechanochromic material and first, second and third thermochromic indicators;
• and
• and a processor coupled to the detector configured to correlate the one or more detected optical responses with the environmental history of the component.