In Situ Technology for Cradle-to-Grave Monitoring of Composite Structures

Foster-Miller proposes to conduct a technology assessment aimed at examining and developing in situ approaches to monitor, in real time, the chemical, mechanical and structural stateof a composite vehicle from "cradel-to-grave". In addition, we propose to perform a laboratory-scale feasibility demonstration of a critical aspect of the technology during Phase I. The embedded system itself would be demonstrated as part of Phase II. Besides using such a system to monitor cure during fabrication (and the physical integrity of the composite in service), it should be possible to use the network to aid in performing the function of Built-in-Test/Built-in-Test Equipment (BIT/BITE) diagnostics, and display vital information to an operator in real time. Alternatively, the infromation could be stored for playback at a later date while providing a history of sensor information as it occurred.