Methodologies for Guided Wave-Based SHM System Implementation on Composite Wing Panels: Results and Perspectives from SARISTU Scenario 5

Abstract

Within the SARISTU project, the Application Scenario 5 (AS05) was devoted primarily to the development of methodologies based on ultrasonic guided waves for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) implementation on wing structural elements made of composite materials for detecting BVID or hidden flaws. These methodologies have been mainly developed by the authors of this paper, technologically integrated, and applied on small-scale structural elements within Scenario 5 (unstiffened and stiffened plates) focusing, at the end of the work, also on statistical assessment of damage thresholds levels for each methodology pro- paedeutic to a probability of detection (POD) evaluation of each approach. The paper will shortly present the methodologies developed and implemented, the main experimental and numerical results in terms of damage detection, and the statistical assessment of threshold damage detection levels. Finally, a short comparison about pros and cons of the methodologies as well as the migration strategy of the methodologies to the Integration Scenario 12 for full-scale wing implementation will be presented.