Energy-efficient Method for Embedded In Situ Structural Health Monitoring

Abstract

This article introduces the principles of an ultra low-cost scheme for in situ, embedded structural health monitoring. Based on the interactions of a Lamb wave with the structure, the proposed technique relies in comparing the time period where the sensed signature of the Lamb wave is greater than an user-defined threshold with a reference value. Compared to similar methods based on the monitoring of the structural state evolution, the proposed scheme is ultra low-cost, and therefore suitable for integrated systems that have a limited amount of available energy.