Restricted Research - Award List, Note/Discussion Page
Fiscal Year: 2023
1550 The University of Texas at Arlington (143438)
Principal Investigator: Haiying Huang,huang@uta.edu,(817) 272-0563
Total Amount of Contract, Award, or Gift (Annual before 2011): $ 290,000
Exceeds $250,000 (Is it flagged?): Yes
Start and End Dates: 8/1/22 - 7/31/25
Restricted Research: YES
Academic Discipline: Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Department, Center, School, or Institute: none
Title of Contract, Award, or Gift: Ultrasound Waveguide Sensor Network for Differentiating Sensitization and Fatigue in Aluminum Alloys
Name of Granting or Contracting Agency/Entity:
Office of Naval Research (ONR)
CFDA Link: DOD
12.300
Program Title:
none
CFDA Linked: Basic and Applied Scientific Research
Note:
(SAM Category 1.1.1.)Sensitization is a process that changes the microstructures of marine grade aluminum alloys (AAs), making them more susceptible to corrosion, which could reduce the fatigue life of the structural components. In-situ continuous monitoring of sensitization and fatigue damage is of critical importance to maintain and extend the service life of many structural components. Detecting sensitization or fatigue damage, however, is extremely challenging, because these two damage modes only causes microstructural changes, especially at the early stages. Current technologies that characterize sensitization or fatigue are more suitable for laboratory testing instead of in-situ continuous monitoring. Furthermore, no existing sensor technology can differentiate sensitization and fatigue. The overarching goal of this project is to realize ultrasound waveguide (USWG) sensor networks for differentiating material damage at the microstructural level, especially sensitization and fatigue in AAs. Such a network is inspired by a recent discovery that a bar subjected to longitudinal vibrations is essentially a Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI). This discovery establishes the analog between optical fiber and USWG, expanding optical fiber sensor concepts, such as FPI and Fiber Brag grating (FBG), to the ultrasound domain. The objectives of the proposed research include: 1) quantifying the effect of material microstructural changes, such as sensitization and fatigue, on the material properties of the structure; 2) developing methodology to realize the USWG sensors; and 3) exploring USWG sensor network strategies and machine learning (ML) for sensor data interpretation. This study will establish the theoretical and technological foundation for the USWG sensor networks. The USWG sensor network is expected to have profound impacts on many research areas and applications, just like the optical fiber sensor networks have in the past.The following six tasks are planned: 1) correlate material sensitization and fatigue to complex Young’s modulus; 2) measure adhesive properties use laser ultrasonics; 3) realize USWG FPI and BG sensors; 4) explore excitation, sensing, and networking strategies; 5) develop machine learning algorithms for data processing; 6) differentiate sensitization and fatigue using USWG sensor networks.The successful completion of this project will demonstrate a novel sensor and sensor network concept that enables in-situ microstructural characterization at multiple locations. This unprecedented capability will reduce the complexity and weight of SHM systems and thus make them more attractive to the end users. Broader deployment of such systems will lead to more efficient maintains and enhanced safety assurances.This document is publicly releasable.
Discussion: No discussion notes