Sensing Textile Optical Fiber Filament Orientation for Structural Damage Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current monitoring technologies for civil infrastructure lack ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and adequate detection capabilities for structural damage, necessitating a more efficient sensing solution.

Innovation Solution

A sensing textile comprising optical fiber filaments oriented at various angles and configurations, integrated with a carrier, to detect environmental changes and structural damage, utilizing interrogators for measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional monitoring technology is used for civil infrastructure, then structural damage can be detected, but the ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and detection capabilities are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidease of use

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses textile substrates and flexible composite materials to create wearable or attachable sensing systems that conform to structural surfaces, enabling easy application and comfortable wearability while maintaining detection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs piezoelectric materials that convert mechanical stress into electrical signals, changing the physical state from mechanical deformation to electrical output for easy measurement and processing of structural health data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If conventional monitoring technology is used for civil infrastructure, then structural damage can be detected, but the cost and efficiency are inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidmonitoring efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing textile integrates multiple sensing functions including strain measurement, impact detection, and structural health monitoring into a single system, enabling comprehensive monitoring that improves productivity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex mechanical monitoring equipment with piezoelectric sensors that automatically convert mechanical stress into measurable electrical signals, reducing system complexity and improving monitoring efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3639001B1Sensing textile

Publication Date: 2026.02.18 SAINT GOBAIN ADFORS CANADA LTD

Figure 1~2

AI summary

A sensing textile includes at least one assembly of optical fiber filaments, wherein the sensing textile has a main direction and a cross direction, and wherein the at least one assembly of optical fiber filaments is oriented at any angle measured relative to the cross direction.