Damage Detection
Damage detection sensors fabricated by Direct Write are among the first of MesoScribe’s sensor technologies to be manufactured in production quantities, following stringent quality assurance standards and deployed in a commercial aerospace application involving flight-critical structures. Direct Write damage detection arrays monitor for structural debits induced by foreign object damage, and serve as the diagnostic component of integrated health management systems. Sensor patterns are tailored to suit customer requirements, providing required detection resolution, and several options for signal extraction.
Key Features
- Sensor patterns are customizable and can span many length scales from millimeters to meters
- Functional elements are deposited conformally onto structures following complex surface contours
- Damage sensors can be embedded within coatings or multilayer structures (e.g. composites, TPS, etc.)
- Parallel networks enable distributed detection schemes for more advanced implementation
MesoScribe’s damage sensors are fabricated using the Direct Write process, where the functional features of the sensor networks are directly deposited and do not require any adhesives or post-process curing. Sensor patterns can be manufactured conformally onto contoured surfaces and encapsulated with advanced coatings such as thermal barrier, abrasion resistant, and ablative systems for integrated coating diagnostics. Sensor arrays can be deposited onto thin carrier films for deployment onto large structures, such as a wing leading edge. This approach is particularly advantageous for composite systems, where the damage network can be deposited onto surfacing films and co-cured with the structure. Damage extent and location, which are essential inputs for prognostic algorithms, can be inferred using parallel sensor networks and multiplexed configurations.
| Applications | Markets |
|---|---|
|
|