Removable chromatic witness assembly, system, and method to monitor thermal events and impact events on a composite structure

US10024792B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Ryan E. Toivola · Kirkland, US
• Alex Kwan-yue Jen · Kenmore, US
• Sei-Hum Jang · Mukilteo, US
• Brian D. Flinn · Seattle, US
• Eric G. Winter · Colville, US
• Gary E. Georgeson · Tacoma, US
• Wesley L. Holman · Mill Creek, US
• Gregory R. Gleason · Seattle, US
• Scott R. Johnston · Chesterfield, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 8, 2016
• Grant date: Jul 17, 2018
• Expiry date: Oct 19, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2201/062
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

There is provided a removable chromatic witness assembly, system, and method to monitor thermal events and impact events on a surface of a composite structure. The removable chromatic witness assembly has a plurality of chromatic witness geometric configurations separately coupled in an arrangement to one or more portions of a polymeric film layer. Each chromatic witness geometric configuration has a plurality of chromatic probes of a same type incorporated into an adhesive material. At least two of the geometric configurations have a different type of chromatic probes with a different sensing capability for thermal events and impact events on the composite structure. The polymeric film layer and the geometric configurations form the removable chromatic witness assembly in a form of a removable chromatic witness applique configured to be removably applied directly and continuously to the surface of the composite structure, and configured to monitor the thermal and impact events.