Embedded Optical Sensors for Energetic Material Health Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring the health of energetic materials in weapon systems are destructive, lengthy, expensive, and impractical, often requiring multiple samples and being reactive rather than proactive, which negatively impacts reliability and safety.
Innovation Solution
An energetic material device with an optical sensor and optical fiber embedded within the material for continuous, real-time, nondestructive diagnostics and prognostics, using fiber Bragg gratings and other sensors to monitor strain, temperature, and acceleration, allowing for proactive monitoring without disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If destructive testing methods are used to monitor energetic material health, then measurement precision can be achieved, but reliability and safety are compromised due to the destructive nature of the testing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces destructive mechanical testing methods with optical sensing technology. Optical sensors embedded in the energetic material use light-based measurements (reflectance, transmittance, fluorescence) to detect structural and chemical changes, eliminating the need for physical destruction of samples while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical sensors as intermediary elements between the energetic material and the measurement system. These sensors act as mediators that detect changes in the material's properties through optical interactions without direct physical contact or destruction of the material itself.
2Measurement precision
If destructive sampling and disassembly are performed to assess energetic material health, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and productivity are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous monitoring of energetic material health through embedded optical sensors that operate continuously without interruption. The system provides real-time data on structural and chemical changes, eliminating the need for periodic destructive sampling and allowing ongoing assessment throughout the material's service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensing system is self-contained and autonomously monitors the energetic material without requiring external intervention, disassembly, or sampling operations. The embedded sensors continuously measure optical properties and transmit data automatically, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating time-consuming manual testing procedures.
3Measurement precision
If multiple destructive samples are removed from weapon systems for testing, then measurement precision can be achieved, but loss of substance is incurred due to destruction of energetic material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical sampling and destructive testing with optical measurement techniques. Optical sensors detect chemical composition and structural changes through light interaction (absorbance, reflectance, fluorescence) without removing or destroying any material, thereby eliminating substance loss while maintaining analytical capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates optical copies or signatures of the energetic material's chemical and structural properties through optical measurements. Instead of physically sampling the material, the system measures the material's optical characteristics which serve as diagnostic copies of its health status, eliminating the need to consume or destroy the original material.
4Reliability
If conventional monitoring programs are used to assess weapon system health, then reliability can be maintained through periodic testing, but device complexity and cost are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple monitoring functions into a single integrated optical sensing system. The embedded optical sensors simultaneously measure multiple parameters (structural integrity, chemical composition, temperature, humidity) through various optical techniques, consolidating what would otherwise require multiple separate testing procedures and systems into one unified platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensing system provides universal monitoring capability that can assess multiple aspects of energetic material health through a single system. The same optical sensors and techniques can detect structural changes, chemical composition, and environmental effects, making the system multi-functional and reducing overall monitoring program complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables immediate, nondestructive assessment of structural health, reducing costs and environmental impact while providing real-time data for proactive maintenance, ensuring the reliability and safety of energetic material devices.
Implementation Method 1
using fiber Bragg gratings and other sensors to monitor strain, temperature, and acceleration
Data Source
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AI summary
An energetic material device is disclosed. The energetic material device can include a casing. The energetic material device can also include an energetic material in a solid state within the casing. In addition, the energetic material device can include an optical sensor encased within the energetic material to sense a condition of the energetic material. An energetic material monitoring system is also disclosed. The energetic material monitoring system can include an energetic material device. The energetic material device can include a casing. The energetic material device can also include an energetic material in a solid state within the casing. In addition, the energetic material device can include an optical sensor encased within the energetic material. The energetic material monitoring system can also include an interrogator in communication with the optical sensor via an optical fiber.