Stretchable eddy current sensor and associated methods

Abstract

Eddy current sensors are provided herein that are stretchable. In some aspects, the stretchable eddy current sensors have a sensor element array that is designed to act as an eddy current inspection sensor and multiaxial strain sensor to enable distortion compensation for measurement signals. Using strain detected by the eddy current sensors and, in some aspects, combining information about the geometry of a component and position information of the sensor on the component, corrections can be determined to make the eddy current sensor readings invariant to deformations of sensor elements of the eddy current sensors. In other aspects, the stretchable eddy current sensors can be installed on a component to be inspected for health monitoring. A baseline measurement can be acquired after installation, for example, after the stretchable eddy current sensor is initially stretched, and defects detected based on changes from the baseline measurement.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.