Patent ID: 6595684
Filing Date: 2003-07-22
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A system for evaluating a structure, the system comprising:a) a structure to be evaluated, the structure having a predetermined baseline thermal signature and formed from a web of interwoven fibers including at least one electrically conductive fiber; b) a thermal source comprising a power-supply and the at least one electrically conductive fiber, the power supply operable to supply power to the at least one electrically conductive fiber to heat the structure; c) a detection device operable to detect a thermal energy at various points of the structure; and d) a computer coupled to the detection device, the computer operable to generate a thermal signature of the structure based on the thermal energy at the various points; and e) wherein the generated thermal signature of the structure is compared to the baseline thermal signature of the structure to determine whether anomalies exist in the structure.