Wireless Fastener Monitoring for Structural Health Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring fastener parameters in structures, such as aircraft, are limited to confirming whether fasteners are within prescribed tolerances, failing to account for changes between inspections that can impact the structure's health, leading to potential integrity issues.
Innovation Solution
A non-contact, wireless system for measuring fastener parameters, using sensors and RFID tags, which correlates measured values with engineering characteristics to generate analytical reports that infer the structural health, allowing for rapid and consistent assessment of fastener status and maintenance needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional contact-based fastener measurement methods are used, then measurement capability is achieved, but labor requirements increase and measurement efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based measurement systems with wireless sensor technology. Sensors embedded in fasteners transmit data wirelessly to monitoring systems, eliminating the need for physical contact and manual measurement procedures. This substitution dramatically improves measurement efficiency while reducing labor requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener measurement system performs self-monitoring through embedded sensors that automatically track fastener status and transmit data without human intervention. This self-service capability enables continuous monitoring without requiring manual measurement operations, thereby increasing productivity and reducing labor involvement.
2Reliability
If periodic fastener inspections are performed, then structural integrity monitoring is achieved, but time loss between inspections occurs during which fastener status may change
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless sensor system enables continuous monitoring of fastener parameters between traditional inspection intervals. Sensors continuously track clamping force, temperature, and other critical parameters, ensuring structural integrity is monitored without interruption. This eliminates the time loss and risk associated with periodic inspections while maintaining reliable monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system detects fastener status changes and structural issues in real-time, allowing preliminary identification of problems before they become critical. By continuously monitoring fastener parameters, the system provides advance warning of potential failures, enabling proactive maintenance before time-critical situations arise.
3Ease of operation
If fastener measurements are used only to confirm tolerance compliance, then simple binary assessment is achieved, but changes in fastener status between inspections are not detected
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensors monitor fastener parameters in real-time and transmit data to monitoring systems. This feedback mechanism provides ongoing information about fastener status changes, trends, and deviations from normal operation. The system maintains operational simplicity while preventing information loss through automated continuous monitoring and alerting.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method is provided for analyzing the health of a structure by measuring the value of preload on each of a plurality of fasteners installed on the structure and correlating the measured values of preload with a set of specifications. A report is generated for each of the fasteners representing the results of the correlations. Groups of the fastener reports are used to infer the health of the structure.