Patent ID: 8286497

Claim:
A strain sensor assembly operable to detect a strain in a structure, comprising: a sensor element comprising an elongated, amorphous or nanocrystalline sensing microwire operable to be coupled with said structure so that the sensing microwire is placed in tension when said structure is subjected to strain, said sensing microwire having a positive magnetostriction property, a first remagnetization response when said structure is in an unstrained condition, and a second remagnetization response substantially greater than said first remagnetization response when the structure is in a strained condition and said sensing microwire is placed in tension; and a detector separate from said structure and including a transmitter unit operable to create an alternating magnetic field of sufficient magnitude to magnetically couple with said sensing microwire in order to interrogate said sensing microwire and induce a sensing microwire remagnetization response, and a remagnetization sensor operable to sense said sensing microwire remagnetization response, whereby when said structure is in a strained condition, said remagnetization sensor will sense said second remagnetization response.