Measurement of downhole component stress and surface conditions

An apparatus for measuring strain on a downhole component, comprising:

• at least one strain gauge deposited on a surface of a downhole component of a downhole drilling assembly or disposed within a material forming the downhole component, the at least one strain gauge including an insulating layer disposed between the at least one strain gauge and the downhole component, the insulating layer made from a material that is at least as brittle as the material forming the downhole component when in an operating environment;
• and
• a processor in operable communication with the at least one strain gauge, the processor configured to detect changes in the at least one strain gauge in response to conditions of the surface of the downhole component, the conditions of the surface including the formation of a crack or surface discontinuity.

An apparatus for measuring strain on a downhole component, comprising:

• at least one strain gauge deposited on a surface of a downhole component of a downhole drilling assembly or disposed within a material forming the downhole component;
• and
• a processor in operable communication with the at least one strain gauge, the processor configured to detect changes in the at least one strain gauge in response to conditions of the surface of the downhole component, the conditions of the surface including the formation of a crack or surface discontinuity, the changes including a change in acoustic wave transmission occurring in the downhole component due to surface modifications caused by the at least one of the crack formation in the downhole component and crack propagation in the downhole component.