Patent ID: 8723673

Claim:
A detection system for identifying deterioration in one of a plurality of target metallic objects and their surrounding matrix comprising: acoustic sensors affixed to a plurality of said target metallic objects which receive acoustic emission waves emitted directly from stresses within said target metallic objects and the immediately adjacent surrounding matrix; a detection circuit in electronic communication with said acoustic sensors which identifies said acoustic emission waves; an analysis circuit in electronic communication with said detection circuit which determines whether changes in the rate of said acoustic emission waves have met a preset threshold for the location of said at least one of said target metallic objects, wherein a hit is said acoustic emission wave that is identified as a significant event and wherein a plurality of said hits are detected, and wherein the determination of whether changes in the rate of said acoustic emission waves have met a preset threshold involves the counting of said hits; wherein said preset threshold is calculated by determining a baseline reference value obtained from said acoustic emission waves emitted directly from stresses within said target metallic object and the immediately adjacent surrounding matrix during a preset time period after installation of said target metallic object and before monitoring for deterioration in said target metallic object and the immediately adjacent surrounding matrix; and an alarm circuit in electronic communication with said analysis circuit for transmitting an alarm signal when said preset threshold has been met identifying the location of said at least one target metallic objects which has exceeded said threshold.