Patent ID: 7250776

Claim:
A system for monitoring the condition of a coating on a turbine engine component comprising: the turbine engine component having an outer surface; the coating applied over at least a portion of the outer surface of the turbine engine component, the coating having an outermost surface relative to the outer surface of the turbine engine component; a first assessment wire and a second assessment wire, the first and second assessment wires extending about at least a portion of the turbine engine component such that at least a portion of each assessment wire is in contact with the coating, wherein the first assessment wire is disposed at a first depth from the outermost surface of the coating and the second assessment wire is disposed at a second depth from the outermost surface of the coating, wherein the second depth is greater than the first depth; a power source operatively connected to supply electrical current to each of the first and second assessment wires; and a measuring device operatively associated with the first and second assessment wires so as to determine the electrical resistance across each of the first and second assessment wires, whereby increases in resistance across the first and second assessment wires indicate a disconnect in the respective assessment wire which further provides an indication of the depth of potential damage to the coating.