Because investment needs for infrastructure maintenance grow every year, implementing Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) to structures becomes necessary.
Different NDT methods can be implemented and allow qualified operators to evaluate and collect data about a material or system without altering it.
A specific approach of NDT aims at automating these controls thanks to sensors embedded on structures, called Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). The goal is to monitor the behavior of structures and their integrity and eventually, increase the operating life of ageing structures.
PYTHEAS Technology has developed, for example for the CNES, an SHM system using ultrasonic guided wave imaging (GW-US). This active technology is one of the SHM reference techniques and uses a network of piezoelectric elements to generate and receive elastic waves. The interaction between these waves and the material is then analyzed to detect, localize and characterize defects.
PYTHEAS Technology offers a Structural Health Monitoring solution, by implementing a network of piezoelectric transmitters/receivers, to :
- Detect, localize and characterize structural defects;
- Identify a fatigue phenomenon;
- Perform a modal analysis of the structure.
Benefits/Characteristics of this SHM solution by GW-US :
- Active solution
- Global, volumetric and non-invasive method
- Real-Time monitoring
- Vibration environment independent
Examples of applications :
- Space: structural diagnosis for reusable satellite launchers
- Aviation: critical components such as aircraft doors
- Naval: composite hulls and propellers
- Wind Power: offshore wind turbines’ blades
