Structural health monitoring network

A structural health monitoring system, comprising:

• a plurality of sets of sensing elements and a plurality of flexible substrates, each set of sensing elements affixed to a different one of the flexible substrates;
• a signal generation module configured to generate first electrical signals for generating stress waves in a structure;
• a data acquisition module configured to receive second electrical signals generated by the sensing elements, the second electrical signals corresponding to the generated stress waves;
• a set of switches in electrical communication with the signal generation module, the data acquisition module, and each set of sensing elements, each switch of the set of switches individually operable to place one sensing element in electrical communication with at least one of the signal generation module and the data acquisition module;
• and
• a processing unit having a computer-readable memory storing instructions, the instructions comprising:
• a first set of instructions to select ones of the sets of sensing elements, so as to designate selected sensing elements;
• a second set of instructions to select a first sensor group from the selected sensing elements, and to select a second sensor group;
• a third set of instructions to direct the set of switches to place only the sensing elements of the first sensor group in electrical communication with the signal generation module, so as to direct the first electrical signals to the sensing elements of the first sensor group;
• and
• a fourth set of instructions to direct the set of switches to place only the sensing elements of the second sensor group in electrical communication with the data acquisition module, so as to direct ones of the second electrical signals generated by the sensing elements of the second sensor group to the data acquisition module.

A method of performing structural health monitoring with a system having a plurality of sensor networks each affixed to a structure, each sensor network having a plurality of sensing elements affixed to the structure, the method comprising:

• (a) selecting one of the sensor networks;
• (b) selecting first sensing elements of the selected sensor network;
• (c) selecting second sensing elements;
• (d) transmitting diagnostic signals only to the first sensing elements, so as to generate diagnostic stress waves in the structure;
• (e) receiving monitoring signals from the second sensing elements, the monitoring signals corresponding to the generated diagnostic stress waves;
• (f) analyzing data corresponding to the received monitoring signals, so as to determine a health of an area of the structure corresponding to the selected sensor network;
• and
• (g) after (e), selecting a different one of the sensor networks, and repeating (b)-(f) in order.

A structural health monitoring system, comprising:

• a plurality of sensor networks, each sensor network having a plurality of sensing elements;
• a central controller;
• and
• a plurality of local controllers, each in electrical communication with the central controller and one of the sensor networks, and each including at least one of:
• a signal generation module configured to generate first electrical signals for generating stress waves in a structure;
• and
• a data acquisition module configured to receive second electrical signals generated by the sensing elements of the associated one sensor network;
• wherein the central controller is programmed to select ones of the local controllers and, for each selected local controller, to receive data corresponding to the second electrical signals from the selected local controllers.