The timely and accurate detection and identification of faults in various mechanical structures during their operations can play a vitally important role.  Currently, however, there exist major challenges and barriers.  Because the mechanical structures are continuous with infinitely many possible scenarios/patterns of faults that have extremely small characteristic lengths, the sensory system needs to rely on the usage of high-frequency response signals.

In this NSF project, the team proposes to innovate a novel printing scheme that can embed piezoelectric transducers (namely, sensor/actuator coupled elements) into layered composites. As the transducers are densely distributed throughout the entire structure, they function like a nerve system embedded into the structure. Such a sensor nerve system, when combined with new control and command systems and advanced data and signal processing capability, can fully unleash the latest computing power to pinpoint the fault location.

In this NSF project, the team proposes to innovate a novel printing scheme that can embed piezoelectric transducers (namely, sensor/actuator coupled elements) into layered composites. As the transducers are densely distributed throughout the entire structure, they function like a nerve system embedded into the structure. Such a sensor nerve system, when combined with new control and command systems and advanced data and signal processing capability, can fully unleash the latest computing power to pinpoint the fault location.