Guided Wave-based SHM of Submersible Navy Composites

This SBIR aims to develop an efficient approach for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of submersible Navy composites. This research leverages hardware previously developed by Metis Design Corporation (MDC), including distributed digitization hardware, piezoelectric-based damage-localization sensors, and a data accumulation hub. Collaborating with Goodrich EPP (now UTC Aerospace), during Phase I MDC investigated the feasibility of wave propagation in thick GFRP with neoprene/rubber coatings/core, leading to a demonstration using 4 MD7 digital SHM sensors mounted on a large (8 x 5) curved 1 thick GFRP fairing structure with 3 rounds of damage, including a ~1.5 kJ impact in salt-fog and rain conditions. Building on this success, the Phase II effort seeks to develop a customized system suitable for long-duration installation in a submarine environment. Major tasks will focus on the optimization of sensors placement, fabrication and testing of suitable hardware to withstand a relevant environment, development of robust algorithms to determining health state, and finally a compelling underwater demonstration of a prototype system. The Phase II Option will aim to subsequently test the prototype system through a variety of environments and loads as well as quantifying the system performance and accuracy on a real or representative composite component.