Toward the Upscaling of Guided Waves-Based NDE and SHM in Aeronautics

In this work, we report on some research developments to support the upscaling of nondestructive evaluation and structural health monitoring (SHM) approaches, mainly based on ultrasonic guided waves, for aeronautical applications. In particular, first a spiral-shaped piezoelectric sensor sensitive to the wave direction of arrival (WDA) of guided waves propagating in plate-like structures is described. Next, a miniaturized sensor node capable to perform locally signal processing algorithms, as those developed for the spiral sensors, is presented. The sensor node weights 4 g, measures approximately 20 × 24 mm, is characterized by a low power consumption and exploiting a data-over-power (DoP) network communication reduces to a minimum the need for cabling. At such the spiral sensors and sensor node result to be suitable for the upscaling of SHM approaches devoted to locate impacts as well as delaminations in aircrafts fuselage and wings. Next, impact and/or damage coordinates are passed to an augmented reality (AR) framework that allows the NDT inspector, if equipped with a proper visual device, to see in real time directly on the structure the position of the impact/damage. In the end, by guiding the technician directly to spots potentially damaged this could speed up the NDT visual inspection phase as well as it should reduce the possibility that damages would go undetected. Applications of the above methodologies/technologies for impact localization on an aluminum plate are presented.