Data acquisition devices, systems and method for analyzing strain sensors and monitoring turbine component strain

A method for analyzing a strain sensor, the method comprising:

• providing a data acquisition device, the data acquisition device comprising an image capture device for receiving and processing light to generate images of the strain sensor, the image capture device comprising a processor;
• activating a light source of the data acquisition device for analyzing the strain sensor;
• emitting light from the light source through a light tube;
• focusing and aiming the light with one or more chamfered portions of the light tube as the light travels through the light tube;
• locating, with the processor, a strain sensor portion relative to a background portion within an image of the strain sensor by performing a first analysis of the image;
• identifying, with the processor, strain sensor indicia of the strain sensor portion by performing a second analysis of the image;
• and
• conducting, with the processor, a quality analysis of the strain sensor portion by performing a third analysis of the strain sensor portion of the image, the third analysis utilizing a higher bit-depth than the first analysis.