Integrated Structural Health Monitoring and Morphing System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current structural health monitoring systems require human intervention for damage detection and operational load calculation, leading to increased maintenance costs and reduced operational life of structural platforms due to inefficiencies in real-time damage detection and adaptive responses.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system with Self-Adapting Morphing (SAM) capabilities, utilizing sensors and actuators like shape memory alloys and piezoelectric materials to autonomously detect damage, calculate operational loads, and adapt the structure's geometry in real-time, mimicking the adaptive behavior of biological systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If human intervention is used for damage detection and operational load calculation, then measurement precision can be maintained, but productivity decreases and loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage detection accuracyVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The SHM system performs self-service by automatically detecting damage and calculating operational loads without requiring human intervention. Sensors continuously monitor structural parameters, and the system autonomously processes data to identify damage locations and quantify operational loads, eliminating manual inspection while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback through sensors that monitor structural health parameters in real-time. The collected data is fed back to the processing system which automatically updates damage detection status and operational load calculations, enabling continuous autonomous operation without human intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If human intervention is used for damage detection, then measurement precision is maintained, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage detection accuracyVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The SHM system ensures continuity of useful action by operating continuously without interruption. Sensors continuously monitor structural parameters, and the system processes data in real-time to detect damage immediately upon occurrence, eliminating the time delays associated with periodic manual inspections while maintaining detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If self-adapting morphing is implemented, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegeometric control flexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamics by enabling the structural platform to change its geometry adaptively in response to varying operational conditions. Morphing capabilities allow the structure to transition between different configurations, providing geometric control flexibility while the integrated SHM system manages the complexity through autonomous monitoring and control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If integrated SHM and SAM systems are implemented, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrity managementVSAvoidsystem integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the SHM and SAM subsystems into an integrated architecture where sensors, processing units, and morphing actuators work together as a unified system. This integration improves reliability by enabling coordinated damage detection and adaptive response, while the modular design manages complexity through standardized interfaces and centralized control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This integrated system enables continuous structural integrity management, reducing maintenance costs, extending operational life, and improving performance by autonomously detecting damage, calculating critical loads, and adapting the structure's shape to optimize mission tasks and reduce drag, thereby enhancing safety and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing sensors and actuators like shape memory alloys and piezoelectric materials to autonomously detect damage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShape memory alloy: Shape Memory Alloy

Implementation Method 2

utilizing sensors and actuators like shape memory alloys and piezoelectric materials to autonomously detect damage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10149631B2Structural health monitoring sensory system integrated to a self-adapting morphing system

Publication Date: 2018.12.11 EMBRAER SA

AI summary

A system and method for damage detection and for evaluating the real operation conditions for structural platforms using structural health monitoring is integrated to a system and method that permits for the platform to provide a flexible geometric control considering a self-adapting morphing which is capable of providing better operating structural platform performance.