An Integrated Physics-Based Framework for Detecting Precursor to Damage in Naval Structures Navy STTR FY2010.A Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2010.A Topic No.: N10A-T042 Topic Title: An Integrated Physics-Based Framework for Detecting Precursor to Damage in Naval Structures Proposal No.: N10A-042-0343 Firm: Los Gatos Research 67 East Evelyn Ave. Suite 3 Mountain View, California 94041 Contact: An-Dien Nguyen Phone: (650) 965-7772 Web Site: www.lgrinc.com Abstract: Aging aircraft commonly suffers from several types of degradation including fatigue cracking and lack of bonding. It is virtually impossible to predict degradation in structural performance or when a component or structure will fail due to the inability to test new material systems under all loading conditions and under all environmental conditions. A material state awareness system using minimalistic, powerful, distributed network of sensors and actuators needs to be developed to provide precise material state condition specification before any visual sign of damage develops. In this proposal, we propose to develop a quantitative structural health monitoring system based on a fiber-optic strain and Lamb waves interrogation technique combined with a multiscale modeling algorithm to predict damage precursor and perform crack detection and monitoring in aircraft and shipboard components with high accuracy and high sensitivity. During the Phase I and Phase I Option periods of this project, we will demonstrate the feasibility of developing a compact optical fiber-based structural health monitoring system combined with an integrated physics-based framework for detecting precursor to damage in Naval structures. Benefits: The developed tool sets will be useful to predict the global, local and fatigue strength of current and future high speed vessels over their lifetime. It is anticipated that the research results will help establish improved SHM systems, with less reliance on schedule based maintenance and lead to a condition based maintenance (CBM) system based on the accuracy of decision from collected data and the distribution of sensors on a vehicle. New generations of naval vehicles will also greatly benefit from advancements in made in multiscale analysis, damage state sensing and detection. Return