Patent ID: 8830477
Filing Date: 2014-09-09
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
1. A method for the determination of damage or states of a mechanical structure which result from a loading of the mechanical structure, comprising: determining in each case a sensor signal of a fiber-optic rotation sensor connected mechanically rigidly at least to part of the mechanical structure before and after the loading; determining in each case an earth's rotation signal superposed on the sensor signal from the respective sensor signal; determining on the basis of the superposed earth's rotation signals determined in each case, and without removing the effect of the earth's rotation, a respective instantaneous orientation of the fiber-optic rotation sensor with respect to the earth's rotation axis; determining a change in orientation of the rotation sensor from the respective instantaneous orientations of the fiber-optic rotation sensor before and after loading, and determining the damage or states of the mechanical structure on the basis of the change in orientation of the rotation sensor.