Innovative Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) System Capable of Detecting, Localizing, and Characterizing Damage in Composite Aircraft Structures Navy SBIR FY2012.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2012.2 Topic No.: N122-110 Topic Title: Innovative Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) System Capable of Detecting, Localizing, and Characterizing Damage in Composite Aircraft Structures Proposal No.: N122-110-0644 Firm: Texas Research Institute Austin, Inc. 9063 Bee Caves Road Austin, Texas 78733-6201 Contact: Russell Austin Phone: (512) 263-2101 Web Site: www.tri-austin.com Abstract: Some success has been achieved with SHM of with simplified composite aircraft structures in laboratories. However, more complex structures with thickness variations, stiffeners, bonded joints; fasteners etc have been less successful. This is becoming a very serious issue, as the new H53-K uses large amounts of composites. Texas Research Institute Austin, Inc. (TRI/Austin) has a flight proven SHM system, the Large Area Health Monitoring Processor (LAHMP). It is a complete, miniaturized, acoustic emission system with built in, patented algorithms to determine fitness for service and damage location based on AE data. These algorithms were developed from data collected during laboratory and full scale fatigue, and flight proven, using real, fixed wing military aircraft composite structures. LAHMP has passed MIL-STD's 810, 461 and 704. The research team of TRI/Austin, Sikorsky and University of South Carolina proposes NAVAIR fund development of an even smaller, lighter, more rugged version of LAHMP for helicopter service. This system will use Acoustic Emission (AE) sensors to passively, continuously monitor composite structure health. The proposed work includes expanding prior work by our research team on 1) ballistic damage detection and assessment and 2) defect typing. All work will be performed on real composite structures from military aircraft. Benefits: Military helicopters are subjected to extreme ballistic, impact and vibration environments. Usage in these harsh conditions could lead to early failure of composite structures, and this has delayed implementation of large composite structures in rotorcraft in a wide scale. Availability of a real time diagnostic and prognostic system that is rugged and small/light enough to use aboard rotorcraft is an enabling technology. This will allow helicopters to experience the same advantages of composite structures that have been realized in fixed wing, automotive, construction, and chemical processing industries. The first application will be the CH-53K series, but other helicopters with composite structures, e.g. the V-22, Bell 407, and NH90 will also be important targets. The goals of the proposed work, i.e. a smaller, lighter, tougher system with improved capabilities for detection, location, and typing of damage will increase its utility for all types of fixed wing and rotor wing aircraft health monitoring. Its small size and light weight also make is useful for unmanned air vehicles. Return