Sensor for Detecting Surface Cracks in an Article

A sensor for detecting the presence of a surface crack in a component, the sensor comprising:

• a base stratum that, in use, is affixed to the surface of the component, the base stratum having one or more channels that each extend through the thickness of the base stratum;
• at least one intermediate stratum that is affixed to two adjacent strata and has one or more holes and/or channels that each extend through the thickness of the intermediate stratum, each hole/channel registering with one or more of the holes/channels in an adjacent stratum;
• a terminal stratum that is affixed to an adjacent one of the intermediate stratum, the terminal stratum having at least one hole each of which extends through the thickness of the terminal stratum and registers with the one or more of the holes/channels in the adjacent intermediate stratum;
• and
• one or more conduits that extend through the sensor, the conduits being formed by the registering holes/channels in the:
• base stratum,
• the at least one intermediate stratum;
• and,
• the terminal stratum.

A sensor for detecting the presence of a surface crack in a component, the sensor comprising:

• a base stratum that, in use, is affixed to the surface of the component, the base stratum having one or more channels that each extend through the thickness of the base stratum;
• at least one intermediate stratum that is affixed to two adjacent strata and has one or more holes and/or channels that each extend through the thickness of the intermediate stratum, each hole/channel registering with one or more of the holes/channels in an adjacent stratum;
• a terminal stratum that is affixed to the adjacent intermediate stratum;
• one or more first conduits that extend through the sensor, the first conduits being formed by the holes/channels in the base stratum and the at least one intermediate stratum;
• and
• an elongate lead that has a first stratum and a second stratum and one or more second conduits that extend in the elongate direction through the lead, each of the second conduits being in fluid communication with one of the first conduits.