SBIR Phase I: Kaiser Trigger: A Nano-Watt Powered Technology for Ultra-Low Power Fatigue Crack Detection

该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是引入新一代低功率无线传感器，用于检测结构中的声发射事件和裂缝形成。根据联邦公路管理局(FHWA)的数据，美国交通基础设施有605,102座运营桥梁，其中66,561座存在结构缺陷。FHWA的报告还指出，93%以上的有缺陷的桥梁使用年限超过30年。能源管道等许多其他基础设施系统也受到老化的影响。该技术采用Kaiser触发器，其独特之处在于其低成本和超低能耗。因此，它在低功率无线传感器中的应用使其成为解决这一具有挑战性的问题的理想解决方案。该项目的预期收益和商业应用是：(1)一个低成本和易于使用的机制，用于有效监测、及早发现和及时修复公路桥梁等基础设施系统上的结构问题；(2)提高公共安全，降低维护成本，并延长关键和高价值基础设施系统的使用寿命；以及(3)在监测其他结构的结构健康和完整性方面的商业应用，包括机身、管道、货运起重机、船舶等。由于结构中裂纹的产生伴随着高频声发射(AE)波的传播，因此可以使用无线声发射传感器来检测此类裂纹。然而，声发射检测传感器的主要挑战之一涉及声发射放大器，其消耗的能量通常比有限能量的无线设备中的可用能量多得多。因此，传统的声发射检测方法不能用于低功率无线传感器。该项目提出了一种新技术，Kaiser触发器，它比传统的声发射探测系统消耗的能量少几个数量级。在制造和成功测试后，Kaiser触发器将集成到结构健康监测传感器中。配备Kaiser触发器和声发射检测功能的无线传感器将成为监控基础设施系统的强大而低成本的解决方案。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be the introduction of a new generation of low-power wireless sensors for detecting Acoustic Emission events and crack formation in structures. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the US transportation infrastructure has 605,102 operational bridges, of which 66,561 are structurally deficient. The FHWA report also indicates that more than 93% of deficient bridges are more than 30 years old. Many other infrastructure systems such as energy pipelines also suffer from aging. The unique features of the proposed technique, which utilizes a Kaiser Trigger, are its low-cost and ultra-low energy consumption. Thus, its use in low-power wireless sensors make it an ideal solution to this challenging problem. The anticipated benefits and commercial applications of this project are (1) a low-cost and easy-to-use mechanism for effective monitoring, early detection, and timely repair of structural issues on infrastructure systems such as highway bridges; (2) improved public safety, reduced maintenance costs, and extended service life of critical and high-valued infrastructure systems; and (3) commercial applications in monitoring the structural health and integrity of other structures, including airframes, pipelines, cargo cranes, ships, etc. This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project addresses distributed structural health monitoring (SHM) of infrastructure systems, particularly highway bridges, airplanes, and pipelines. Because the creation of a crack in a structure is accompanied by the propagation of high frequency acoustic emission (AE) waves, wireless AE sensors can be used to detect such cracks. However, one of the main challenges for AE detection sensors involves the AE amplifier, which typically consumes significantly more energy than the amount available in a wireless device with limited energy. As a result, conventional AE detection methods cannot be used with low-power wireless sensors. This project proposes a novel technique, the Kaiser Trigger, which will consume several orders-of-magnitude less energy than conventional AE detection systems. After fabrication and successful testing, the Kaiser Trigger will be integrated into structural health monitoring sensors. The wireless sensors equipped with the Kaiser Trigger and AE detection capability will be a powerful, yet low-cost solution for monitoring infrastructure systems.