Luna Innovations Inc.

Thomas A Wavering

Fritz John Friedersdorf

Kent A Murphy

Mark E Jones

Michael F Gunther

Jennifer L Elster

Nathan K Brown

Russell May

Scott A Meller

Wade J Pulliam

Charles L Bopp, Iii

Patrick M Russler

Jason W Borinski

A passive sensor that is located on or adjacent to a structure that can be used to monitor the affect of environment on a structure or coating that is used to protect the structure. The sensor includes a parasitic element that interacts with the environment and influences the intensity of the electromagnetic response between the inductive element of the sensor and the antenna of the interrogation reader device. The condition of the parasitic element is determined by the radio frequency interaction of the reader antenna and the inductive element of the sensor. The parasitic element condition correlates to the environmental severity, or corrosivity of the environment and damage to metallic structures or protective coatings. An integrated circuit within the sensor is capable of storing identification, time, material, and measurement information. The sensor and system of the present invention is useful for tracking and monitoring cumulate environmental damage to a structure.

Wireless corrosion sensor

Sensors, methods and systems detect physical effects (e.g., corrosion, erosion, scaling and/or oxidation) of a fluid in contact with a diaphragm associated with a sensor assembly. The diaphragm preferably exhibits a first mechanical response when initially placed into contact with a fluid and a second mechanical response different from the first mechanical response after exposure to the fluid for a predetermined period of time. A change in the diaphragm mechanical responses between at least the first and second mechanical responses is therefore indicative of physical effects on the diaphragm over time caused by the fluid in contact therewith. A mechanical response sensor is operatively associated with the diaphragm so as to measure the change in the diaphragm mechanical responses and thereby determine the physical effects over time of the fluid in contact with the diaphragm. In some embodiments, the diaphragm is actuated due to a pressure condition exerted by the fluid or in other embodiments the diaphragm is internally actuated. Internal actuation includes pneumatic, hydraulic or piezoelectric means for producing a mechanical response of the diaphragm. In one embodiment, therefore, fluid corrosivity may be sensed by bringing a sensor assembly having a pressure-actuated diaphragm into contact with a corrosive fluid, exerting a pressure condition on the diaphragm so as to cause the mechanical response of the diaphragm, measuring the diaphragm deflection or strain, and then deriving fluid corrosivity from the measured diaphragm mechanical response.

Sensors, methods and systems for determining physical effects of a fluid

Integral fiber optic-based condition sensors detect conditions of a composite structure, e.g., a coated wire assembly so as to detect damage or conditions that may damage the same. Preferably, at least one optical fiber sensor having a plurality of Bragg gratings written into the fiber at spaced-apart locations along its axial length is integrated into the electrical insulator coating of a wire, wire bundle or wiring harness. The fiber optic sensor may thus be employed to measure the environmental loads on the electrical wiring including stresses from bending, axial loading, pinch points, high temperature excursions and chemical damage. The system is capable of detecting and locating transient conditions that might cause damage to a wiring system or permanent changes in state associated with damage events. The residual stress in the electrical insulator coating of a wire, wire bundle, or wiring harness are used to monitor the evolution of damage by wear or chaffing processes. Detected stress relief on one or more Bragg gratings will thus be indicative of damage to the insulator coating on the conductor. As such, the magnitude of such stress relief may be detected and used as an alert that the wire insulation is damaged to an unsafe extent.

Composite structures, such as coated wiring assemblies, having integral fiber optic-based condition detectors and systems which employ the same

The present invention is directed toward an interferometric sensor that permits the simultaneous measurement of a change in more than one environmental condition. The interferometric sensor comprises an optical fiber and a plurality of sensing regions positioned in an operable relationship to the optical fiber. Each sensing region has partially reflective boundaries and produces an interferometric signal.

Interferometric sensors utilizing bulk sensing mediums extrinsic to the input/output optical fiber

A fiber optic system and method of use is disclosed. The fiber optic system comprises a laminated, pre-stressed, piezoelectric actuator; and a fiber optic strain gage having an input/output fiber, wherein the fiber optic strain gage is attached to a surface of the laminated, pre-stressed, piezoelectric actuator. The fiber optic system is useful for performing dynamic mechanical analysis on a sample.

Fiber optic system

A single-ended long period grating optical device is presented. The single-ended optical device comprises an optical waveguide having at least one core mode and a plurality of cladding modes. At least one long period grating couples light from the core mode to the cladding modes. A reflector is positioned in an operable relationship to the long period grating, and the reflector reflects a signal. A mode stripper is positioned after the long period grating and removes the cladding modes from a transmitted signal and the reflected signal.

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Charlottesville, VA, United States of America

Thomas A Wavering