Structural assembly and methods for facilitating corrosion inspection

A method of constructing a corrosion inspection system, the system comprising:

• applying a paint or primer to at least a portion of a surface of a structure with the paint or primer having optical properties that change in response to corrosion;
• extending a plurality of optical fibers along at least the portion of the structure that is coated such that the optical fibers are in optical communication with the paint or primer, wherein the paint or primer is applied to at least a portion of the surface of the structure so as to be physically distinct from the plurality of optical fibers;
• and
• providing an optical source configured to provide incident optical signals to the plurality of optical fibers and a sensor configured to receive responsive optical signals from the plurality of optical fibers following interaction of the optical signals with the paint or primer so as to permit the responsive optical signals to be analyzed to detect corrosion.

A method of inspecting a structure for corrosion, the method comprising:

• exposing a paint or primer applied to at least a portion of a surface of the structure to incident optical signals being delivered by at least one optical fiber, the paint or primer being configured to have optical properties that change in response to corrosion, wherein the paint or primer applied to at least a portion of the surface of the structure is physically distinct from the at least one optical fiber;
• receiving responsive optical signals via at least one optical fiber in response to having exposed the paint or primer to the incident optical signals with the responsive optical signals being at least partially dependent upon any change in the optical properties of the paint or primer in response to corrosion;
• and
• analyzing the responsive optical signals to detect corrosion.