Continuous flow structural health monitoring system and method
AssigneeStructural Monitoring Systems Ltd.
InventorMartin Doyle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A continuous flow structural health monitoring system for detecting a crack in a component or structure comprises a pressure source, a fluidic circuit and a measurement system. The pressure source supplies fluid at a regulated pressure relative to ambient pressure. The fluidic circuit couples at one end to the pressure source and opens at an opposite end to ambient pressure. The pressure source produces a substantially constant and continuous flow of fluid through the fluidic circuit. The fluidic circuit has a first passage having a first surface portion of the component or structure. The measurement system monitors perturbations in the flow of fluid through the first passage to provide an indication of structural health of the component or structure.
Claims12
A continuous flow structural health monitoring system for a component or structure, the system comprising:
- a pressure source providing a supply fluid at a regulated pressure difference relative to ambient pressure;
- a fluidic circuit which is coupled at one end to the pressure source and open at an opposite end to ambient pressure, wherein the pressure source produces a substantially constant and continuous flow of fluid through the fluidic circuit, the fluidic circuit having a first passage constituted in part by a first surface portion of the component or structure;
- and
- a measurement system that continuously monitors for perturbations in the substantially constant flow of fluid through the first passage to provide an indication of structural health of the component or structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.