# US 12,287,303 B2 · Sacrificial sensor for determining damage to a part > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,287,303 B2 - Document ID: US12287303B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/596,146 - Filed: 2020-05-27 - Published: 2022-07-21 - Granted: 2025-04-29 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-06 - Assignees: BAE SYSTEMS plc - Applicants: BAE SYSTEMS plc - Inventors: Janice Marie Barton; Geir Olafsson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12287303B2 ## CPC - G01N 27/20: Investigating the presence of flaws - G01N 27/205: {in insulating materials} - G01M 5/0033: {by determining damage, crack or wear} - G01M 5/0083: {by measuring variation of impedance, e.g. resistance, capacitance, induction} - G01N 27/24: Investigating the presence of flaws - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract There is provided a sacrificial sensor configured to be coupled with a part and provide an indication of damage in the part, wherein an electrical property of the sacrificial sensor is configured to change as the sacrificial sensor is damaged to indicate damage to the part. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensor system configured to be coupled with a part and provide an indication of damage in the part, the sensor system comprising a plurality of sacrificial sensors arranged across a surface of the part, such that the sacrificial sensors are spaced from one another on the surface, each of the plurality of sacrificial sensors comprising a separate and distinct plurality of electrically conductive, flexible fibers in a tissue structure, wherein an electrical property of a given sacrificial sensor of the plurality of sacrificial sensors changes as at least a portion of the given sacrificial sensor is physically broken to indicate damage to the part. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical property comprises electrical resistance, wherein the electrical resistance increases as the given sacrificial sensor is damaged. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical property comprises capacitance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sacrificial sensors is located within an adhesive coupled to the part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sacrificial sensors is configured to be integral within the part. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the given sacrificial sensor has an areal density of between approximately 5 gsm and approximately 30 gsm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A system comprising: a part to be inspected; and the sensor system according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of sacrificial sensors has a lower strain to failure value compared with a strain to failure value of the part. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, wherein the one or more of the plurality of sacrificial sensors includes a plurality of sacrificial sensors arranged at various locations on the part to determine the location of any damage of the part. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, wherein the part comprises a non-conductive composite laminated material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein the one or more of the plurality of sacrificial sensors is located in a laminar layer of the composite laminated material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, wherein the one or more of the plurality of sacrificial sensors is located in a matrix of the composite laminated material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein the one or more of the plurality of sacrificial sensors is located within an adhesive at a joint in the part. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method of providing an indication of damage in a part, the method comprising: providing a part with the sensor system according to claim 1; providing a voltage potential to the given sacrificial sensor; and determining a change in the electrical property of the given sacrificial sensor to indicate damage to the part. ### Claim 14 A sensor system configured to be coupled with a part and provide an indication of damage in the part, the sensor system comprising a plurality of sacrificial sensors arranged across a surface of the part, such that the sacrificial sensors are spaced from one another on the surface, each of the plurality of sacrificial sensors comprising a separate and distinct plurality of electrically conductive, flexible fibers in a tissue structure, wherein an electrical property of a given sacrificial sensor of the plurality of sacrificial sensors changes as the given sacrificial sensor is physically broken to indicate damage to the part, wherein the sensor system is one of (1) located within an adhesive coupled to the part or (2) integral within the part. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The sensor system according to claim 14, wherein the electrical property comprises electrical resistance, capacitance, or both. ### Claim 16 A system comprising: a part comprising a non-conductive composite laminated material; and a sacrificial sensor arranged on a surface of the part, the sacrificial sensor comprising a plurality of electrically conductive, flexible fibers in a tissue structure and is configured to provide an indication of damage in the part, wherein an electrical property of the sacrificial sensor changes as the sacrificial sensor is physically broken to indicate damage to the part. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system according to claim 16, wherein the sacrificial sensor is located in one of (1) a laminar layer of the composite laminated material, (2) a matrix of the composite laminated material, or (3) an adhesive at a joint in the part. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sacrificial sensors are rectangular strips spaced adjacent to one another across the surface of the part. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The sensor system according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of sacrificial sensors are rectangular strips spaced adjacent to one another across the surface of the part. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system according to claim 16, wherein the sacrificial sensor is a rectangular strip on the surface of the part.