Dynamics-based Nondestructive Structural Health Monitoring Techniques

FBS, Inc. and The Pennsylvania State University propose the development of a novel ultrasonic structural health monitoring (SHM)/nondestructive testing (NDT) technology. The goal of our work is to bridge the gap from the short time transient ultrasonic guided wave analysis to the long time modal vibration analysis. This new technique will be sensitive to material properties, defect presence, and overall structural shape. Our hypothesis is that plate loading via comb or annular array loading to achieve optimal wave structures for best sensitivity to a certain defect will also produce different structural reflection characteristics and vibration modes and frequencies. Hence, physically based features from transient, reflection, and modal analysis will be used to characterize defects via pattern recognition analysis. BENEFIT: The resulting technology will enhance SHM/NDT technology by bridging the gap between transient wave ultrasonics and modal analysis. If successful, the proposed technology will increase aviation safety while minimizing inspection times by allowing large area screening of an entire component from only a few sensor positions.