公开(公告)号：US20170328840A1

公开(公告)日：2017-11-16

申请号：US15153565

申请日：2016-05-12

Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION

Inventor： DAVID W. EVANS

IPC: G01N21/88 ,  H04B10/079 ,  B64D45/00 ,  H04B10/25 ,  G01N21/27 ,  G01N21/84 ,  G01M17/007

CPC classification number: G01N21/8806 ,  B64D45/00 ,  B64D2045/0085 ,  B64F5/60 ,  G01L1/242 ,  G01M5/0016 ,  G01M5/0033 ,  G01M5/0066 ,  G01M17/007 ,  G01N21/27 ,  G01N2021/8472 ,  G01N2201/088 ,  H04B10/07953 ,  H04B10/25

Abstract: A method for detecting defects in a composite structure, such as in an aircraft structure, that includes sending an optical signal down an optical fiber embedded in the composite structure and analyzing the optical signal at a detector. If it is determined that the optical signal is turning on and off or an increase in the bit error rate is occurring at the detector, the composite structure may be delaminating or the composite structure may be somehow damaged. If it is determined that the composite structure is damaged, the optical signal can be sent down a different optical fiber that may not be at a location where the composite structure is damaged, and a continuous beam of light can be sent down the optical fiber that is at the damaged part of the composite structure to determine whether the damage is increasing.