A Novel Wireless System for Structural Integrity Monitoring of Aircraft

In this Phase 2 project, we expect to develop two useful andinnovative systems for ground based nondestructive evaluation(NDE) of aircraft. First, a portable monitoring prototypeconsisting of wireless MicroElectroMechanical System (MEMS) andPolyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) sensors, and a telemetry systemwill be developed. Experience with PVDF sensors being tested onan SH-60 helicopter will assist this study greatly. The wirelesssensor and telemetry system are state-of-the-art technologiesthat have not yet been applied to aircraft NDE. The MEMS sensorsare low-cost, compact, passive, have unique identificationnumbers, conformable to the aircraft structure, and can beinterrogated in a wireless manner. The wireless capability allowsthe aircraft to be monitored all the time. Hence the maintenancecost can be saved significantly. Second, an integrated defectprocessing and prognostics tool will be developed. The tool willprovide defect detection and localization. The software toolintegrates the latest technology in prognostics to process thesensor signals. We can enhance sensor signals in noisyenvironment, detect and locate multiple defects, and, with properhistorical data and training files, provide both qualitative andquantitative (remaining life) system status information. The proposed integrated wireless system for detecting and localizing defects is novel by itself and will have many practical applications in other diagnostics and prognostics applications.system combines the latest development in sensor and hardware technology with the most recent theories in diagnostics and prognostics and will provide valuable information that could save cost and improve reliability and availability for a wide range ofapplications. The Navy and Boeing aircraft is our first target Phase 3 application. As can be seen from the support letters and purchase order from Boeing (St. Louis), Lockheed Martin (Fort Worth), Boeing (Kennedy Space Center), Rolls-Royce (Indianapolis), and Boeing (Seattle), the proposed advanced NDE technology will be very useful forboth military and commercial systems such aircraft, Joint Strike Fighter, NASA systems, Future Combat Systems, etc.