Patent ID: 7080555
Filing Date: 2006-07-25
Classification: G01H,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for the continued real time health monitoring of a structure using acoustic emission analysis comprising the steps of: a. fixedly mounting at least one acoustic emission transducer in a region of said structure to be monitored; b. distributing, in that same said region, a distributed health monitoring system containing all necessary hardware and software for complete analysis of the raw acoustic emission signals from said at least one transducer; c. amplifying the voltage signals received from said at least one acoustic emission transducer to produce an amplified signal; d. filtering said amplified signal to eliminate unwanted frequencies to produce a filtered signal; e. acquiring, during a pre-determined time period, said filtered signal to identify and record acoustic emission events; f. diagnosing, from said recorded acoustic emission events for said pre-determined time period, the overall health assessment of said region of said structure; wherein said diagnosing step further comprises the steps of;