<p class="Paragraph SCXW199946504 BCX2" lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">In recent years, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) have been growing in importance. These aircraft have various applications in search and rescue; land surveying; crop inspection; military applications. research and development. However, with the rapid growth of UAS, concerns are increasing due to accidents and catastrophic incidents associated with them. Over the past few years, the crash of high-velocity projectiles into public places has increased substantially; and structural failures, unpredicted sudden loads from turbulence due to adverse weather, and software failures have been some of the major causes. Complex designs and increased use cause aircraft and drone maintenance costs to amplify. Structural health monitoring (SHM) of UAS has become more important than ever in order to evaluate structural integrity. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p class="Paragraph SCXW199946504 BCX2" lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is defined as the technique of obtaining and analyzing data from onboard sensors to assess the health of a structure. Here algorithms are used to compare stored data from the undamaged structure with acquired data to inform about the existence of damage existence, location, and the type. SHM technology is intended to detect structural breakdowns as well as provide an early warning of physical damage. The early alerts from the SHM system can then be used to develop repair measures before structural damage leads to failure. Therefore, the durability increases, and life cycle costs (LCC) related to the maintenance reduces.</p><p class="Paragraph SCXW199946504 BCX2" lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">In this research, we incorporate conventional strain gauges, surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors, and flexible sensor materials embedded into the structure of the UAS as an economical, yet effective solution for strain measurement in UAS. By embedding sensors in the crucial locations of a structure, such as various joints and load-bearing elements, SHM allows for real-time data on the strain status of the UAS system. As the number of sensors continuously produces a large amount of data, those need to be processed in real-time. Therefore, integrating an advanced software system can facilitate continuous monitoring to turn sensors on, hence provide lifetime forecasting of structural health.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p class="Paragraph SCXW199946504 BCX2" lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: justify; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-indent: 0px">By using strain gauge bridge configurations during the bending of carbon epoxy composite structures, we have established the linearity of stress-voltage data corresponding to displacement in the bent structure. Thus, the stress developed on the wings due to the load generated from various circumstances during the flight can be predicted from the voltage generated from the strain gauge. Such predictive tools will help lessen the maintenance cost, minimize the chances of drone crashes and consequently reduce the debris in the environment.&nbsp;</p>

Strain Measurement for Structural Health Monitoring of Unmanned Aircraft System (Uas)

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/IMECE/IMECE2021/volume/85543

ASME 2021 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE2021)

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