Apparatus and methods for sensing mass accumulation degradation
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorArmen Kvryan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided are apparatus and methods for sensing material degradation through sensing of mass accumulation. In some aspects, the apparatus and methods employ a material such as aerogel in conjunction with a force-sensing device such as a piezoelectric sensor placed in contact with or in proximity to a material under test. Degradation of the material under test is sensed by sensing a change in mass of the aerogel absorbing parts or particles of material lost by the unit under test that, in turn, acts to further place force on or deform the piezoelectric sensor enabling real time measurement of degradation by sensing changes in the output voltage of the piezoelectric sensor. These changes in output voltage may then be correlated to the mass degradation of the unit under test.
Claims20
An apparatus for measuring the degradation of a material under test comprising:
- a first material disposed in proximity to or in contact with a second material under test and capable of accumulating a portion of the second material resultant from degradation of the second material;
- and
- a force measurement device mechanically coupled to the first material and configured to translate pressure, force, or strain exerted thereupon by the first material due to the mass of the first material including mass increase resultant from absorption of the portion of the second material into an electrical signal.
A material degradation sensor for detecting degradation of a material under test comprising:
- a first material disposed on the material under test, the first material having an absorbent property wherein particles of the material under test lost due to material degradation thereof may be absorbed into the first material causing an increase in total mass of the first material;
- and
- a force measurement device coupled with or in contact with the first material and configured to measure force exerted thereupon by the first material.
A method for monitoring mass degradation in a material under test, the method comprising:
- disposing a customizable shaped material at or near the material under test;
- disposing a force sensitive device to be coupled with or disposed on the customizable shaped material and configured to output an electrical signal proportional to the pressure or force change on the device due to a change in mass of the customizable shaped material due to absorption or accumulation of particles of the material under test lost due to degradation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.