Patent ID: 8596135

Claim:
A system for monitoring joints comprising: at least one joined member, having a width, wherein said joined member is joined to a structure by a monitored joint; at least one near field strain measuring device located on said joined member, within a distance of less than the width of said joined member from said monitored joint; at least one far field strain measuring device located on said joined member, at a distance of more than twice the width of said joined member away form said monitored joint; and a computerized processor configured to; receive data indicative of strain at said near field strain measuring device and said far field strain measuring device; compute monitored signal signature based on the ratio of the data received from said near field strain measuring device and data received from said far field strain measuring device; compare the monitored signal signature to a stored signal signature of a healthy joint; and determine the integrity of said monitored joint based on the comparison of the monitored signal signature to the signal signature of a healthy joint.