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US 8,756,815 B2Granted
Methods of structural health monitoring using metal bodies containing microcavities
AssigneeAlcoa Inc.
InventorsHasso Weiland, Markus Heinimann, Robert C. Pahl, Achim Hofmann, John Liu
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Abstract
Monolithic metal bodies (e.g., hard aluminum alloys) comprising a continuous microcavity contained within the body are disclosed. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the metal body to the cross-sectional area of the microcavity may be not greater than 10. The produced metal bodies may be used in structural applications (e.g., aerospace vehicles) to monitor or test the integrity of the metal body.
Claims10
A method comprising:
- (a) assembling an aerospace vehicle having an extruded aerospace structural component;
- (i) wherein the extruded aerospace structural component is made from a hard aluminum alloy having a tensile yield strength of at least 50 ksi and comprises at least one continuous microcavity;
- and
- (b) after the assembling step (a), monitoring structural health of the extruded aerospace structural component via the at least one continuous microcavity of the extruded aerospace structural component.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.