Piezoelectric Wafer Active Sensor Structural Health Monitoring of Space Structures

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is a valuable tool for in-service assessment of structural condition. Despite a broad use in many engineering fields, SHM has seen limited application in space systems. This article explores specifics of SHM applied to space systems and satellites in particular. It is suggested that SHM may be considered for aiding rapid assembly of spacecraft components, monitoring system dynamics during launch, and model updating from an assessment of in-service variation of structural properties. The article presents a discussion of factors affecting realization of the SHM system for spacecraft and provides recommendations for the system configuration and its practical use. The SHM system design based on a network of piezoelectric active sensors is considered. System operation focuses on SHM of improperly tightened bolts, assessment of adhesive bonds, and embedded material characterization techniques. Synergistic use of the same hardware for acoustoelastic, non-linear acoustic, and material characterization methods is recommended, and further system integration options are proposed.