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Work Package

Objetives

The monitoring of components to detect small defects in a critical structure over time is a key goal of operators. It offers the potential to enable safe and cost-effective operations of a range of composite structures across many industrial sectors (aeronautics, wind energy, naval etc.). A key challenge with embedding sensors is an efficient energy management of the system to limit its intrusiveness. Recent research at the UEiffel has shown that selfpowered piezo-electric sensors may be achieved by harvesting energy from low frequency vibrations of the structure in operation. In parallel, CEA has developed an energy efficient passive guided waves imaging strategy for defect detection by post-processing high frequency ambient noise, i.e. without active emission of wave in the structure. Coupling both approaches would lead to energy free permanent ambient noise monitoring. Although the core concepts behind this have been established, coupling both approaches has not yet been explored. Herein lies the primary aim of this project. More specifically, the researcher will: (1) explore how electronic system may be optimised to maximize energy harvesting using embedded piezoelectric sensors used for passive imaging in a range of materials, from carbon and glass composites to concrete and difference sources of vibrations (spectrum, energy); (2) embed optimised sensors into several experimental structures with project partners; (3) explore how the sensor measurement performance may be improved through the use of signal processing expertise within the consortia; and (4) investigate synergies with the other techniques developed in USES², e.g. using ultrasound sensors as an acoustic source of noise in combination with the fibre optic sensors developed.

Planned intersectoral, interdisciplinary and international secondments

• Airbus, Jaime García-Alonso, 2 months, M11-M12: Investigating the application of sensors optimised to aerospace structures.
• UBRI, Anthony Croxford, 2 months, M25-M26: Exploring wireless communication for self-powered sensors.
• Isamgeo, Alessandro Broveli, M29-M30: Exploring ambient noise monitoring of soils with embedded sensors.