Patent ID: 7504834
Filing Date: 2009-03-17
Classification: G01D,G01M,G01N

Abstract:
1. A detection system for monitoring a physical condition of an engineered structure, comprising: an array of sensors disposable in a predetermined pattern on the engineered structure and disposable between a surface of the engineered structure and a protective coating substantially covering the surface, wherein at least one sensor of the array comprises a sensing portion configured to detect at least one of an impedance, current, and voltage, the sensing portion disposed on a flexible substrate, and an optoelectronic interface to receive the optical signal generated by the controller a controller for retrieving data from the sensors, wherein the controller comprises a data acquisition system, a light source to generate the optical signal, an optical circulator, and an optical spectrum analyzer to receive returning optical signals from one or more of the sensors of the sensor array; and one or more optical fibers coupling an optical signal generated by the controller to the array of sensors, wherein the array of sensors provides data corresponding to at least one of a degree of cure of the protective coating, a health of the cured protective coating, and a corrosion rate of the engineered structure at each of the sensors.